How Long Does An Electric Bike Last (An Expert Weighs In)
Electric bikes have become a very popular mode of transportation recently, but some people wonder if it is worth it to purchase an electric bike because they don’t know how long it will last. So, how long do electric bikes last?
On average Electric bikes last for up to 10 years, although if well cared for, they can last longer. Electric bike motors last for more than 10,000 miles and electric bike batteries last 2 to 5 years. Electric bike tires last for 1,000-4,000 miles, and the brakes last for 3,000-6,000 miles.
Now that you know a little bit about electric bikes and how long some of the various components last, you may be wondering how long the different types of electric bike motors last and how often you should take your electric bike in to be serviced. Keep reading to find out.
How Long Do Electric Bikes Last?
Electric bikes typically last for 10 years. Sometimes if they are ridden frequently, or if they are not taken care of, they will only last for about 7 to 9 years, but that is still a long time for an electronic vehicle. The amount of time that an electric bike lasts also varies depending on the specific bike brand and model. Nowadays, companies are making electric bikes that are lasting longer than the ones made in the past. (Source)
Some things that can make your electric bike stop working before it is supposed to include:
- Exposure to weather
- Rusty parts
- Overuse
- Lack of thorough cleaning
If you store your electric bike outside where it is exposed to the rain and the snow, your bike will wear out faster than you might expect it to. Rain and snow are very hard on your electric bike because they can freeze the parts or cause them to rust. If the parts on your electric bike become rusted, they will not work well, and your electric bike will stop running. You can choose to store your electric bike in a tent. We recommend using the TEWLEN storage tent which can be found on Amazon.
If you want your electric bike to last for 10 years or more, keep it stored inside, away from the elements. The garage or a large hallway are good places to put your electric bike.
If your electric bike is overused, then it will not last for more than 10 years. Make sure that if you use your electric bike often, you don’t allow the battery to overheat or overuse it.
If you don’t thoroughly and regularly clean your electric bike, it will not last as long as you expect it to. If you don’t regularly clean your electric bike, dirt and debris will get into interior mechanisms and make them wear down faster.
We use these products when cleaning our electric bike:
If you want your electric bike to last for more than 10 years, clean it regularly and have it serviced to keep it in top condition. If you want to know how often you should have your electric bike serviced, keep reading.
How Long Do Electric Bike Motors Last?
As a general rule electric bike motors typically last for at least 10,000 miles of use, even though most other parts around the motor don’t last as long. However, there are three different types of motors that are commonly used for electric bikes.
But what is the best type of electric bike motor, and how long do they last?
How Long Do eBike Hub Motors Last?
As a whole, you can expect electric bike hub motors to hold up for 3,000-10,000 miles of use. These motors spin faster than the direct drive motor that is typically on the front wheel and as a result, may last for less mileage than other types of motors.
Electric hub motors help you go faster while you are going downhill and help you get over hills. If you live in an area with a lot of inclines or you frequently use your electric bike to go over hills, you will likely want to get an electric bike that has a hub motor.
How Long Do Electric Bike Direct Drive Hub Motors Last?
On average Direct drive hub motors last for about 10,000 miles of use, just like the hub motor. You will likely have to replace the direct drive motor and the hub motor at the same time because they usually work together to propel the bike forward.
Direct drive hub motors are typically on the front wheel, but they can also be situated on the back wheel. If you want this motor to last for a very long time, make sure that it does not overheat or become rusted. Otherwise, you likely won’t have to do much in order to keep the direct drive hub motor on your electric bike working for at least 10,000 miles.
How Long Do eBike Mid Drive Motors Last?
As a whole, Mid drive motors on electric bikes last for at least 10,000 miles, just like the other two types of electric bike motors. This is taking into account that it is protected from moisture damage through its life span.
However, the mid-drive motor chains tend to be slightly thicker than the other motor chains on electric bikes because this type of motor puts a lot of strain on the chain, and it needs to be thicker in order to last as long as the other motor chains do.
If you want your electric bike’s motor to last for a long time, make sure it doesn’t get wet for long periods of time. Keep it out of the rain and snow, as the moisture will get into the motor and make the parts rust and stop working, even before they are used for 10,000 miles.
According to e-bike users on Reddit, mid drive or hub motors are the best types of motors to have on electric bikes. Mid drive motors are very commonly used for electric bikes, but it is hard to do maintenance on them. Hub motors are durable, affordable, and don’t require a lot of maintenance in order to work well. (Source)
How Long Does an Electric Bike’s Battery Last?
As a general rule, most batteries will last for 3-5 years before the battery life starts to decline or stop working completely. On average the battery on electric bikes last for 25-80 miles on a single charge, although some newer electric bike batteries last longer than that.
However, the battery will only last this many years if you use your electric bike regularly and don’t leave it charging for a long time.
If you want the battery on your electric bike to last for the full 3-5 years, make sure that you don’t store your electric bike when the battery is full, as that will negatively impact the battery’s capacity and will shorten its life. Instead, store your electric bike when the battery is between 40%-80%.
Most electric bikes can travel about 50 miles on a single charge, but many newer electric bikes can last up to 80 miles on a single charge, and that number will likely increase in the next few years.
If you want your electric bike’s battery to last for a long time, keep it in a place that stays between 59°F to 68°F, and if you don’t plan on using it for a while, only charge it to 40%-80% before you store it.
If possible, make sure that there is some charge left in the battery, even if you are not going to use it. If the battery stays dead for a long time, it won’t work as well as it did before.
Also, don’t use chargers that fully charge the battery within an hour or so as this will reduce the battery’s charge capacity. Instead, use the charger that the electric bike comes with. If you do all of this, then your battery will last for many years.
How Long Do the Brakes on an Electric Bike Last?
As a whole, the brakes on an electric bike last between 3,000-6,000 miles of use. If you have high-quality brakes then they will last for about 6,000 miles, and if you have lower quality brakes on your electric bike they will likely last for 3,000 miles of use. However, if you regularly ride your electric bike in the rain or in the sand, these mechanisms will wear out faster.
The brakes on your electric bike will also wear out before 3,000 miles of use if you use them while continuing to pedal and move. For example, if you frequently go downhill and use your electric bike’s brakes to control your speed, they will wear out faster than they would if you almost never did that.
However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use your brakes to control your speed while going downhill; they are there for that very purpose and will keep you and your bike safe. It just means that you may have to replace your electric bike’s brakes more often than you expect.
How Long Do the Tires of an Electric Bike Last?
As a general rule, the tires on an electric bike last for 1,000-3,000 miles. Tough touring tires typically last for 4,000 miles. If you want your electric bike’s tires to wear out at the same rate, switch the front and back tires periodically because the front tire wears out more quickly than the back tire.
Make sure that the tires on your electric bike are always kept inflated. Before you ride your electric bike, check its tires for punctures, and make sure they are correctly inflated. If your electric bike’s tires are not properly inflated they will be more likely to puncture and you will have to repair the puncture before you use your electric bike again. You can find electric bike tire sealant for $6-$16 at any local hardware store or online.
For tires with tubes, we recommend using this Slime Tube Sealant sold on Amazon.
For tube-less tires, we recommend using this Stan Tire Sealant.
Tire punctures happen, even if your electric bike’s tires are not worn down. Luckily, you can seal any punctures that the tire has with super glue or a flat sealant so you can ride your electric bike until you can get the tire repaired.
How Often Should an Electric Bike Be Serviced?
As whole Electric bikes should be serviced at least once a year when they are regularly cleaned by the owner. If an electric bike is not regularly cleaned by the owner when it becomes dirty, then it will need to be serviced every 6-9 months.
If you don’t regularly clean your electric bike or frequently leave it outside without a covering, you will need to have your electric bike serviced every 6-9 months. This is because dirt and debris can get into the gears and the motor of your electric bike and if you continue to use it in this condition, they can become clogged and will wear out faster than they should.
If you don’t want to have your electric bike serviced every 6-9 months and instead want to have it done once every year, make sure you wipe down your electric bike every once in a while when it has a lot of dust and dirt on it. Make sure all of the gears are working correctly, and make sure that nothing is clogging the motor.
Never spray your electric bike with a hose because the water may get into the crevices and battery. This can cause your electric bike to start rusting. The battery may stop working as well. Instead, use the appropriate spray cleaner when cleaning your electric bike. We recommend using this WD-40 electrical spray from Amazon.
When you have your electric bike serviced, they will check the motor, gears, brakes, battery, and tires and make sure that they are working properly and are not worn out or flat. They will also clean your electric bike and make it look nice. The cost of servicing your electric bike will vary on the services that you choose and the bike shop’s servicing rates. However, it typically costs between $150-$200 for an electric bike to be serviced.
Now that you know how long each component of your electric bike will last, you can enjoy using it with peace of mind, and the knowledge that your electric bike will last for a long time, even if you use it frequently. If you are wondering if an electric bike is worth the price, keep in mind that they last for at least 10 years, even when regularly used. When parts wear out, they are typically easy to replace, and it is very easy to find replacement parts at any bike shop or online.
