FAQ | Electric Bike Information

• • • • How can I compare different Pedego models?

• • • • Which battery should I choose?

• • • • How far can I go on a single battery charge?

• • • • How long until a battery needs to be replaced?

• • • • How long does the battery take to charge?

• • • • What is the battery made of?

• • • • Can I charge the battery by pedaling?

• • • • Throttle & Pedal Assist: What’s the difference and which is better?

• • • • Hub Motor vs. Mid Drive: Which is right for me?

• • • • How fast can I go?

• • • • What maintenance is required?

• • • • What is the weight capacity?

• • • • Can I transport my Pedego on hitch mounted rack for my vehicle?

The following chart was designed to make it easy for you to choose the right Pedego for you.

Pedego Electric Bikes have more similarities than differences. Every Pedego is designed in California and built with quality, brand name components from the ground up. Our philosophy is that a bike is only as great as it’s weakest part, so we never cut corners. The diagram below shows the standard features that all Pedegos share.

Pedego offers four different batteries that are classified by their voltage and amp-hour ratings. The voltage determines how powerful the bike will feel and the amp-hours determine how far you can go on a single charge.

Choosing the right battery for you depends on your individual needs and budget.

The short answer to this question is far enough! Generally speaking, any Pedego battery should last longer than you. We don’t hear many stories of people running out of juice.

With that said, this can be a complicated question because there isn’t a “standard” and everybody makes vastly different claims about range. So we’ll go over some simple math that can help you objectively predict the range of any electric bike.

All batteries have both a Voltage and Amp Hour rating. If you multiply the two together, you get Watt Hours. Watt Hours is an objective measurement of the actual amount of energy stored in a battery.

Volts x Amp Hours = Watt Hours

This is where it gets tricky, because there are so many variables. On average, you can expect to use between 7.5-15 watt hours per kilometer. This number fluctuates so much because of differences in terrain, rider weight, weather, speed, and most importantly how much you pedal.

Below is a table with all the facts about each Pedego battery and the estimated range for an average rider.

*The Stretch (48V 13Ah & 48V 17Ah), Ridge Rider, and Trail Tracker (48V 11Ah) models have slightly different batteries, but the idea is the same.

You can expect your battery to last about 2-4 years.

Lithium batteries usually don’t just stop working altogether, what happens is they gradually lose their capacity over time.

Pedego batteries are backed up by an industry-leading three year warranty, where the first year is guaranteed 100% and the next two years are pro-rated based on how long you’ve had the battery.

To prolong the life of your battery it’s suggested that you avoid discharging it completely, and the big thing is to make sure that you charge it at least once every couple months.

A battery will charge is between 2-6 hours with a standard wall outlet.

There is no memory, so you don’t have to worry about discharging it completely, and it’s best to recharge it after each use.

It uses very little energy- usually about ten cents worth.

And it includes a smart charger that will automatically shut off when it’s done.

Pedego batteries are made up of individual Li-ion cells designated 18650 because of their size (18mm x 65mm). These are very common batteries found in countless consumer electronics, electric bicycles, and even electric cars.

There are basically two types of 18650 cells- those made by the three major, name brand suppliers (Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung), and everything else. The name brand cells are much more safe and reliable than the cheaper cells.

Pedego Electric Bikes use premium cells made by Samsung, which is the world’s largest Li-Ion battery supplier.

The benefits of these cells are three fold:

Safety

Each cell is protected by a puncture resistant steel cylinder, and they are separated from each other in the battery pack to prevent fire.

Reliability

Pedego is able to offer an industry leading three year limited warranty because of technological advances that have prolonged the life cycle of our batteries.

The manufacturing process and quality control of the cells themselves has significantly improved over the years, and there is an extremely low failure rate.

The connections between the cells have also evolved and improved to prevent bad connections and premature battery failure.

Performance

The number one reason 18650 cells are so wildly popular is their incredible performance capabilities.

They are remarkably energy dense delivering an abundance of power (up to 675 wh/L and 252 wh/kg) with very little space and weight.

These little cells really deliver the goods!

The battery is charged by plugging it into the wall, and the more you pedal the farther you can go. Your pedaling conserves the battery, but it doesn’t actually charge it.

The technology does exist that would allow you to charge your bike by pedaling, but we’ve found that it just doesn’t make sense in the real world.

The problem is that it makes it hard to pedal, and that’s not fun! Even under the most ideal conditions, like riding downhill, the amount of energy you would get back is negligible.

Throttle

In the United States and South Africa, we are fortunate to have the luxury of throttles on our electric bikes which are forbidden in Europe.

Throttles provide full power on demand and we love them because they give us complete control.

They’re especially helpful for getting started from a standstill (sometimes it can be awkward to gain momentum), getting a quick burst of power to climb a hill, or safely getting through an intersection. If you can’t pedal, or you just don’t feel like it, that’s okay too.

Pedal Assist

Pedal assist, or Pedelec systems, sense your pedaling and provide assistance automatically.

They’re most popular among experienced cyclists that want a more natural, “bike-like” riding experience.

Pedal assist is wonderful for long rides with few stops on relatively flat ground, because you can just relax and enjoy the ride without holding a throttle in place. It’s like cruise control.

Both is Best

Our experience shows that the ideal electric bike has both pedal assist and a throttle, and the next best thing is one with only a throttle.

All Pedego Electric Bikes sold in the SA have a throttle, and many of them also have the option of pedal assist.

We don’t have any bikes that are pedal assist only (except what we send overseas), simply because most people don’t like them. Even if you prefer pedal assist, why wouldn’t you want the option of using a throttle?

A hub motor is the obvious choice for most people. The riding experience can’t be beat, and it’s the most affordable option. It’s the best of both worlds!

We speak from experience on this subject. The Pedego Stretch cargo bike was originally designed with a mid-drive motor because we expected it to perform better with heavy loads. We experimented with several of the top mid drive systems and compared them to our standard hub motor. The results were surprising.The mid drive motors were a huge disappointment. Their performance was no match for our hub motor, even climbing steep hills where mid drives are supposed to dominate. We also found that  most people simply don’t like the way it feels to ride a bike with a mid drive motor, especially when comparing it to our hub motor.

Bottom line: You pay more and get less with mid drive motors.

Power and Freedom

Most quality mid drive systems come from Europe where strict laws limit the power to 250 watts and forbid the use of a throttle.

American’s are allowed (and prefer) more powerful motors and the freedom to use a throttle. All Pedego Electric Bikes sport 500 watt motors with twice the power of a typical mid drive, and they provide full power on demand with a twist-and-go throttle.

Acceleration and Hill Climbing

Many years ago, when all hub motors were gearless, mid drives had an advantage because they could use the gears of the bike to help you accelerate and climb hills.

Today, Pedego hub motors have gears built into them, so they can accelerate and climb most hills just as well (or better) without all the downsides of mid-drive motors.

Maintenance

Mid drive motors are notoriously high maintenance. They put extraordinary strain on the drivetrain of the bike and cause the chain, chainring, derailleur, and cassette to wear out much more rapidly than usual. These parts are expensive and inconvenient to replace.

Hub motors are completely sealed and self-contained, and they require no additional maintenance.

User-Friendly

Mid drive motors use complicated electronics to coordinate the motor’s power with your pedaling and shifting. You are forced to constantly shift gears while riding, and it’s not as smooth as shifting a regular bike (or one with a hub motor). Many people are intimidated and/or annoyed by all this extra hassle.

Bikes with hub motors are far more pleasant and easy to ride. They seamlessly deliver power right where it’s needed – working totally independent of your pedaling and gear shifting. It’s almost like the difference between driving a manual and automatic car.

These are all great reasons to prefer a hub motor over a mid drive, but the most important reason is impossible to describe. It’s the way they actually feel when you ride them…

We like hub motors better. Most people agree. We think you will too.

All Pedegos are governed at 32 kph.

Aside from keeping your battery charged, maintaining a Pedego Electric Bike is the same as any bicycle.

After the bike’s been ridden about 160 km you’ll need a basic tune-up. This is standard procedure for all new bikes as they’re broken in.

The most important (and simple) thing you can do is check your tire pressure regularly, and keep them inflated as indicated on the tire.

If you’re riding in wet conditions, you’ll want to take extra care and make sure you keep your drivetrain clean and well-lubed.

Other than that, you’re likely to need minor adjustments from time to time, and even the best parts do eventually wear out. We suggest that you bring your bike to your local Pedego dealer for a check-up at least once or twice a year to ensure the most safe and pleasant riding experience.

The weight capacity of most Pedego Electric Bikes is 115 kgs. The exceptions are the Tandem and Stretch models which can carry up to 180 kg. The Boomerang Plus and Interceptor, when equipped with the Mag Wheel Upgrade, can also hold up to 180 kg.