Electric Bike Vs. Road Bike (The Raw Facts No One Talks About)

Last night, my siblings were arguing non-stop about which of the two is better—electric bikes or road bikes. I stopped them and explained the advantages and disadvantages of electric bikes and road bikes. I am excited to share the difference between an electric bike and a road bike. 

As a whole, road bikes and electric bikes differ by some of the extra components that electric bikes contain. These components that an electric bike has, include but are not limited to the battery, motor, and sensor. Some electric bikes even have a throttle, unlike all road bicycles.

Will electric bikes perform better than road bikes with the extra components? Are electric bikes faster than road bikes? These questions and some others that you might have in mind will be answered in this article.

Electric Bike Vs. Road Bike

Types of Bike	New Bike Cost	Maintenance/Repair Cost	Weight	Weight Capacity	Uphill Performance
eBikes	$600-$8,000 or higher	Regular Maintenance: (Almost the same) Parts Replacement: (More expensive)	38-70 lbs	220-300 lbs	Can ride uphill without stressing your legs
Road bikes	$200-$10,000 or higher	Regular Maintenance: (Almost the same) Part Replacement: (Cheaper)	18-25 lbs	200-300 pounds	Can ride uphill but can stress your legs

Electric Bike VS Road Bike Cost

On average, road bike pricing ranges from $200-$10,000, while electric bikes cost between $600-$8,000. The gap between their prices depends on several factors such as the materials used, design, size, and bike model.

In choosing between electric bikes and road bikes, always check if the quality of the bicycle is worth the price. The last thing you want to happen is to get disappointed with the bike you just bought. 

As a reminder, an expensive bike does not always equal excellent quality, but it sometimes does. High-quality road bikes and electric bikes are usually made up of carbon fiber materials. 

Maintenance and Repair Costs Of eBikes And Road Bikes

In total, the maintenance and repair costs of electric bikes and road bikes are similar. This is because most of the parts and components of electric bicycles and road bikes are similar. Although when more expensive parts break down on an electric bike, this can become more costly. 

Since the features of electric bicycles and road bikes are almost the same, the maintenance and repair costs are pretty similar as well. In addition, some of their components wear and tear naturally in any given period. 

However, replacing the battery and motor of electric bikes is undeniably costly.

The Difference In Weight Between An eBike And A Road Bike

On average, road bikes typically weigh about 18-25 pounds, while electric bikes weigh around 38-70 pounds. Electric bikes are heavier than road bikes because they contain additional components. An electric bike’s extra heavy components include the motor, battery, and a more robust frame.  

For example, on average, the electric bike’s battery weighs about 7 pounds, and the motor weighs about 10 pounds.

Due to the weight difference, it is easier to pedal road bikes than an electric bike if you’re not using motor assistance. However, electric bikes are equipped with motors that give “pedal-assist” to riders. 

This pedal-assist boosts the electric bike for more effortless pedaling and increased acceleration when going uphill and on rough roads.

We published an article that goes over 31 eBikes and their respective weights. You can check out that article here.

Electric Bikes And Road Bikes Weight Capacity

As a whole, the weight capacities of both electric bikes and road bikes are pretty similar. Both types of bikes can carry a load up to 300 pounds of weight or even higher on some rides. There are models of road bikes and electric bikes built for heavy loads.

These electric bikes and road bikes with high weight capacity can take a weight of more than 300 pounds. There are also electric bikes sold in the market that can carry up to 550 pounds of weight.

Furthermore, some companies customize bikes for riders with special weight requirements. One of these companies that creates bikes and electric bikes for heavy riders is Zize Bikes. You can check their website here.

The Difference Between eBikes And Road Bikes In Uphill Riding

As a general rule, the difference between electric bikes and road bikes in uphill riding is the effort needed. Most electric bikes can climb a hill with the assistance of their motor with little effort required by the rider, compared to a road bike that depends entirely on its user. 

Road bikes are designed primarily for high mileage and speed. On top of that, road bikes can climb uphill if the rider has enough power to pedal the bike up the hill. 

Riding uphill on a road bike will often lead to excessive sweating, which can be detrimental if you ride your bike to work. Often, you may become out of breath if you attempt to climb high inclines on your road bike.

Electric bikes can also climb uphill without putting too much stress on your legs. The pedal-assist of your electric bike gives you an easy uphill ride. However, riding uphill requires more power so, there is a higher chance of running out of battery.

To have the best uphill riding experience, you will want to invest in an electric bike with at least a 750 Watt Motor. Having a powerful motor becomes more critical if you don’t want to pedal when going up a steep incline. 

Going up a hill without pedaling on an electric bike outfitted with a 250 Watt motor would be challenging. 

Also, if your battery dies on an electric bike, it would become much harder to make it up a hill when compared with a road bike. This is because electric bikes usually weigh much more than road bikes on average. 

Both types have good uphill riding performance. So the question is, who is providing that performance, the user or the eBike?  

However, the good thing about electric bikes is that you can ride uphill without tiring yourself too much, which leaves that much-needed energy for the rest of the day. 

Are eBikes Faster Than Road Bikes?

On average, electric bikes are faster than road bikes. Class 3 Electric Bikes max out at 28 mph while using the throttle. Few individuals can pedal a road bike fast enough to attain a speed of 28 mph. However, the absolute max speed is determined by the rider’s effort.

When a class three electric bike reaches a speed of 28 miles an hour, its motors turn off. At that point, the rider would need to pedal without motor assistance with enough power to exceed 28 mph to go even faster. 

That makes attaining a speed over 28 miles per hour possible but not very likely. In addition, electric bikes are heavy, and it is challenging to reach high speeds without motor assistance. 

A more likely situation would be traveling downhill on an electric bike. You could easily exceed 28 miles per hour without any motor assistance with a class three electric bike going down a slope. 

If you pedal on a road bike, you could reach 20 miles an hour on flat terrain. If you are very athletic, you could max out around 45 mph. Of course, traveling downhill, you could reach very high speeds that match an electric bike’s downhill speed.

When maintaining high speeds, an electric bike will be faster than a road bike in most situations as long as it has power left in its battery. 

Can A Road Bike Keep Up With An eBike?

As a general rule, a road bike can keep up with an e-bike. That is possible if the person riding a road bike is a trained rider. However, the ability of a road bike to keep up with an electric bike will diminish over more considerable distances. 

Most electric bikes have a max mile per hour limit on their throttle speed, so skilled professional riders can potentially keep up with an e-bike. 

Being lightweight, a road bike will go faster than an electric bike if it runs out of battery power. 

However, keeping up with an e-bike on a road bike is quite challenging for ordinary people since electric bikes are pedal-assisted. Though road bikes tend to be lighter than e-bikes, your speed technically depends on how fast you pedal.

Electric bikes will stop assisting you once they reach their maximum mph limit. After that, you’re on your own!

Do Electric Bikes Make Cycling Easier?

As a general rule, electric bikes make cycling easier because of their battery-powered pedal-assist. Though e-bikes typically perform as regular bikes, using them will increase the distance you can travel. Furthermore, electric bikes will dramatically improve your ability to climb steep inclines.

Electric bikes help you accelerate faster and maintain your speed at a constant rate. Moreover, with the help of electric assist, e-bikes give you a hassle-free ride for long distances and on rocky terrains.

On top of that, e-bikes help you maintain your energy. Thus, cycling with an e-bike is not as tiring as cycling with a regular bike.

What Uses More Energy: Electric Bike or Road Bike?

As a whole, road bikes use more energy than electric bikes. That is because road bikes do not have pedal assistance. As a result, you need to put more effort into pedaling. An electric bike will make you feel less tired than riding a road bike over a similar distance. 

Have you tried cycling around the city and felt exhausted due to continuous pedaling? The electric-assist of electric bikes can help you avoid that exhausted feeling.

Electric bikes perform like regular bicycles when the motor is off in most cases. The electric bikes motor can be turned on and turned off whenever you want. 

Aside from the pedal assist that electric bikes have, there is no significant difference between riding an electric bike and riding a regular bike. However, using an electric bike makes sense if you ride regularly for longer distances. 

How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Bike?

On average, the charging cost of an electric bike ranges from 5 cents to 35 cents a day, depending on your location. Therefore, charging your Ebike will cost about 10 dollars monthly. However, the cost of electricity varies from place to place, so the price to charge your electric bike may differ.

The charging cost of electric bikes is surprisingly low. The charging time usually takes 4-6 hours until the battery gets fully charged. 

We wrote an article on the ideal times to charge your electric bike battery to get the most ride for your money. You can access that article here.

Take a look at this. Suppose your battery is 36V and 14 Ah. Then, to compute kilowatt-hour (KWh), multiply 36V and 14Ah and divide the product by 1000.

So, (36V * 14Ah)/1000=0.504KWh

That means you can charge 0.504 KW an hour. 

Suppose the KWh charge in your area is 8 cents, (0.504 KWh) * (0.08 dollars) = 0.04032 dollars an hour of charge. 

If it takes 6 hours to charge your battery, then (0.04032) * (6) = 0.24192. 

If you charge your battery once a day, you’ll have a monthly charging cost of approximately 7.26 dollars.

Cost Of Replacing Electric Bike Parts

In total, the cost of replacing electric components of electric bikes is high. The battery itself costs around 500 to 900 dollars, and the motor is about 300 dollars or higher. The pricing can vary depending on the quality of the battery and motor. 

The good thing is that an electric bikes’ battery and motor will last more than three years on average. So, you don’t have to worry about replacing them that often.

We released a full article on how long each major part of an electric bike lasts. You can jump over to that article from here.

If you are looking for an electric bike battery with a high capacity, check out this 52V 14.5 Ah Unit Pack Power e-bike battery sold on Amazon.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Electric Bikes?

As a whole, the disadvantages of an electric bike include the fact that they are heavier and harder to pedal without the motor’s assistance. In addition, it takes time to charge them between rides. Many states have unclear electric bike laws about what types are allowed, and where they are allowed.

Electric Bike Laws Are Unclear In Some States.

Most states have clear and concise laws for electric bikes, but a few still don’t. In addition, electric bike laws differ in different countries and states. Most states consider electric bikes as “human-powered” bicycles. That means you can ride them on an authorized bicycle and motorcycle lanes. 

Most states have a motor-speed limit of 20mph for electric bikes.

If the motor power of the electric bike exceeds the speed limit, it will be considered a moped. 

In that case, you should follow the regulations implemented by the state for moped vehicles. In addition, some states have an age parameter that specifies which age group of people is allowed to ride electric bikes. 

Some states also require electric bike registration and a driver’s license.

We created a detailed article on the electric bike laws of all 50 states. You can access that article here.

Electric Bikes Are Heavy, Making Them Harder To Pedal Without A Motor.

Electric bike batteries weigh on average 10 pounds to 20 pounds. 

Different models of batteries have different sizes with varying weights. This is because the weight of the battery is directly proportional to its capacity and voltage. 

If the capacity and voltage get higher, the battery will be heavier. In addition, the average weight of the electric bikes motor is 10 pounds. 

The weight of the frame of the electric bike, battery, motor adds significantly to the overall weight of the eBike. 

This higher overall weight of e-bikes makes pedaling more challenging without the motor’s power. If you run out of battery power, you will have a much harder time pedaling and difficulty reaching higher speeds.

“Why Compare Electric Bikes and Road Bikes, Just Get Both.”

—Jimmy

Electric Bikes Have To Be Charged Before Riding, Which Takes Time.

Your newly bought battery takes longer to reach its max charge when you initially charge it. The initial charge time takes up to 12 hours. 

The purpose of this is to condition the battery for future use. In addition, this is a way to make sure that your battery will work properly. A drained battery takes 4-6 hours to get fully charged. The charging time depends on what type of battery you have. 

We have a detailed article on how long electric bike batteries need to be charged in different situations. You can access that article here.

What Are The Advantages Of Owning An Electric Bike?

As a whole, the advantages you can get from owning an electric bike are:

• It is environment-friendly.
• It requires less energy to run.
• It can climb up hills quicker than regular bikes.
• The maintenance cost is lower than cars.

Electric Bikes Are Nature’s Friend.

Unlike cars, you do not need fuel to run an electric bike. As a result, electric bikes do not emit harmful gasses like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and other air pollutants. 

Riding electric bikes rather than cars can save the environment from air pollution and noise pollution. So riding an electric bike rather than a car is a way of helping the environment.

Electric Bikes Require Less Energy To Run Than That Of Regular Bikes.

Due to their pedal assist, pedaling an electric bike requires less energy and effort. To top it off, you will still have a lot of energy after your cycling journey. No sweat! And, you won’t worry about having leg cramps after.

The Maintenance Cost Of Electric Bikes Is Cheaper Than That Of Cars.

The driving system of cars is way more complicated than the riding system of electric bikes. This is because vehicles have much more parts and components than electric bikes. 

As a result, the maintenance cost of cars is triple and sometimes quadruple that of electric bikes. In addition to that, cars need fuel to run. The current price of gasoline is about 3-4 dollars per gallon, which is quite expensive. 

Aside from that, the replacement cost of car components is more expensive than the replacement cost of electric bikes parts. With electric bikes, you may find that you can replace some parts yourself, while you will most likely need to hire a mechanic with a car. 

Electric Bikes Can Climb Uphill Easier Than Ordinary Bikes

You would need to pedal harder to climb up hills with a typical bicycle when compared to an electric bike. But with an electric bike, you don’t need to pedal hard because the electric bike’s motor will do some of the work for you.

You Can Still Pedal Your Electric Bike Even If You Are Out Of Battery.

You read it right! If you are into long-distance cycling and uphill adventures, draining your battery is likely to happen. However, that isn’t a problem because your electric bike will continue working after the battery is out of power. 

You don’t have to worry about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere. But, without a battery, you will need to put a more considerable amount of effort to pedal your e-bike since it is heavier than a regular road bike.

Can You Ride An Electric Bike Without Pedaling?

As a general rule, you can ride an eBike without pedaling if it has a throttle. However, not all eBikes have throttle assistance built-in. For example, suppose an eBike is pedal-assisted. In that case, it will only boost you while pedaling, so you would therefore need to pedal to continue riding. 

Throttle allows riders to ride their electric bikes without using the pedal. Electric bikes with a throttle perform like motorcycles and scooters. Most electric bikes with throttles are class 2 electric bikes.

One of the downsides of using throttle-assisted electric bikes is that not all states allow throttle-assisted electric bikes. Furthermore, throttles can drain an electric bike’s battery quickly.

Most states allow throttle-assisted electric bikes. However, for safety reasons, a few states restrict people from using throttle-assisted electric bikes with a speed that exceeds 28mph. 

So, before you plan to buy an electric bike, check your state laws because laws differ from each state.

Aside from that, since the throttle does not require you to pedal, there is a higher chance that your battery will drain quickly. If that happens, you could always carry a spare. 

Can You Burn Calories On An Electric Bike?

As a general rule, you can burn calories riding an e-bike. For example, riding electric bikes can burn 300 to 400 calories in an hour of riding. In addition, with the e-bikes pedal-assist feature, you can stay fit without being too exhausted while traveling a more considerable distance.

Even though electric bikes give you pedal-assist, riding them can still help you burn a certain number of calories. Riding an electric bike will burn 300-400 calories an hour. The calories burnt when riding an electric bike are 20-25% fewer than those burnt when riding a regular bike.

Though the burnt calories when riding electric bikes is less, they still make a difference. Electric bikes are less tiring than road bikes, so you are more likely to ride more regularly. As a result, you can undoubtedly burn more calories over time.

Some e-bikes may be pedal-assisted, but riding them can help you stay fit and burn a significant amount of calories.

You can watch this YouTube video about three different ways of riding your e-bike to become more fitter. 

Are Electric Road Bikes Worth It?

Electric road bikes are worth it. Their components are very similar to that of a regular e-bike. However, electric road bikes are equipped with better features than a typical e-bike. An e-bike’s ability to climb hills and travel further expands your ability to exercise and explore simultaneously.

Electric road bikes are generally more expensive than regular e-bikes. Some of them are as expensive as EMTB’s. Electric road bikes are costly, but they perform better than a typical e-bike and are more convenient on different trails.

Electric road bikes offer excellent motor and battery power along with some incredible features. These features allow you to have a fantastic riding experience under most weather conditions.

Additionally, electric road bikes are made from light materials. Thus, they are very lightweight and are suitable for commuting and trekking.

If you are looking for the best electric bike brands, we have published an article that you should check out, “Best Electric Bike Brands (Ranked By Budget Level And Style).

Best Electric Bike Brands (Ranked by Budget Level & Style)