“I want to buy an electric bike, but I have no idea how much an electric bike costs. Asking around people has not helped much as it only confuses me more. There seems to be a very wide price range for e-bikes, and I’m not sure what I should do.” E-bike prices range from $500 to as high as $10,000. I guess that’s the “confusing answer” you mostly get asking around different people.
The thing is, the first thing you should ask yourself is what you’ll use the e-bike for. Is it for regular traveling, leisure, hiking or anything else? The cost of an electric bike is accumulated at different points. Different types of the bike have different costs. So, first you need to decide which type you need.
Then comes the cost of maintenance. These are the primary factors; but there are more. Once you have taken all into consideration, you can determine how much your electric bike will cost. To find out what these factors are, stay with us.
Article Summary
- E-bikes are worth their cost in many ways. Not only can it help lessen the expenditure regarding transport, but e-bikes can also be used for exercising.
- Mass usage of e-bikes can help reduce air pollution in the future.
- The cost of the e-bike is determined by many factors such as type of e-bike, battery, motor, maintenance, the insurance cost.
- Quality e-bikes don’t come cheap due to the battery, motor, and other components.
- The price of the road e-bikers is affected by motor, battery, weight, insurance, etc.
Are Electric Bikes Worth The Cost?
Are Electric Bikes worth the cost? A very valid question to ask if you are planning to buy one. If it’s worthy or not is difficult to determine as what seems to be great on the surface may not always bring the best outcome. So, how about we look at a few practical factors and then come to a conclusion?
Replacement of Car
I know it sounds outrageous that an e-bike can replace a car! But, keep in mind that not everyone can afford a car or its expenses. So as an alternative you can use an electric bike. Again, I am not saying that e-bikes are not expensive because many of them inare. But if we compare the cost of the car and e-bike, things might get easier to understand.
Whereas when it comes to e-bikes, the bike’s price will depend on your choice. The average cost of maintaining a car, including the monthly installment, will cost you around $700 to $800 every month. But on the other hand, e-bikes maintenance only costs around $100 every month. The pricing of both has a sky-rocket difference. It proves the fact that e-bikes can be a cheaper replacement for a car.
Other than the pricing and cost, some other points to note are-
- Car parts need to be maintained frequently, whereas with e-bikes, all you need is to look after a motor.
- Cars require a regular check on the gas tank, and you’ll need to take a ride for a refill. With e-bikes, when it is adequately charged, it is ready to go.
- E-bikes are compact compared to a car. Therefore, no parking space needed.
So, if you can’t afford a car, e-bikes can be an excellent alternative.
Exercise
Comparing traditional bicycles and e-bikes is pretty much the first thing that pops up in anyone’s mind. Yes, traditional bicycles are more suitable for exercise as you use your muscle power, which means more burning calories.
I agree with the words. But if you’re not accustomed to long-distance cycling, it can sore your muscles and lead to aches at night. Besides, are you truly confident that you’ll make it in time (say, to a business meeting) pedaling a bicycle?
And if you are worried about your exercise regime, e-bikes can also help you with that. No matter how fast you go with an e-bike, the overall balance still depends on your body movements. Therefore, your muscles aren’t actually just idly sitting there. All in all, e-bikes have some physical or therapeutic benefits, but it’s not as much as a regular bike.
Hill Adventure
Do you like roaming and enjoying the views of the hill while riding? Then you must invest in buying an electric bike. It makes your journey more accessible and more sustainable compared to traditional bikes.
Imagine pedaling through the rocky roads of the hill for a long time. Trust me, if you’re not an experienced mountaineer, you won’t be able to feel your legs after a while. To save yourself from such inconveniences, indulge in buying an electric bike.
Greenery
Global warming and air pollution are massive issues that really need our utmost attention. And using e-bikes can be a small way of saving ourselves from an adverse ecosystem. Electronic bike runs on clear energy; therefore, it creates far less air pollution than cars and motorbikes. So using more e-bikes will be sustainable for us and help reduce health hazards little by little.
Battery Problem
As much as having a battery-operated bicycle is a blessing, it can sometimes be a curse. What happens if your battery suddenly dies off during a long trip on a hill adventure? What will you do then? It is a huge problem unless you have a few backup batteries with you, which can be quite a nuisance to carry while planning a long trip. The battery can give up on you, making it wrong to buy an e-bike.
Although many used to see this as a major stumbling block, the situation is actually improving day by day. To prevent dead batteries during a ride, plan your journey based on how many miles your battery can make it. Moreover, batteries are improving day by day.
Buying an electronic bike is worth the cost depending on the person buying it and for what purpose. But in general, if you readily understand the points I discussed above then yes, electric bikes are worth the cost.
Electric Bikes Models And Price Chart
Electric bikes are great for commuting. It is one of the essential transport facilities that people want to have. However, the price range varies from bike to bike. If you want to buy an e-bike, you must know about the pricing. I have prepared a list of e-bike models with weight and price. This list will help you have a basic idea about how much an e-bike costs according to your preference.
| E-Bike Model | Weight (Kg & Pounds) | Price ($) |
| Specialized Turbo Creo Expert | 11.8 Kg (26.8 pounds) | $9,000 |
| Orbea Gain M10 | 11.3 Kg (25.4 pounds) | $8,297 |
| Pinarello Nytro | 12.7 Kg (28.6 pounds) | $7,895 |
| BMC Alpenchallenge AMP ROAD ONE | 15 Kg (33.4 pounds) | $7,190 |
| Trek Domane+ | 17.5 kg (38.5 pounds) | $7,000 |
| Bianchi Aria E-Road | 3.5 Kg (7.7 pounds) | $6,500 |
| Moustache Dimanche 28.7 | 3.2 Kg (7 pounds) | $5,862 |
| Coboc Ten Torino | 15.4 Kg (34.5 pounds) | $5,531 |
| Cannondale Synapse Neo 2 | 17.7 Kg (39.6 pounds) | $4,750 |
| Wilier Cento1 Hybrid | 12.7 Kg (28.2 pounds) | $4,600 |
How Much Does An Electric Bike Cost?
e-bikes are getting highly popular in the US as e-bikes are leading the EV industry ahead of electric cars! Should you join the venture? If yes, then how much does an electric bike cost? An essential thing to determine if you are thinking of buying an e-bike. So, let us take a look at the different points that determine its cost.
Type Of Bike
You want to buy an e-bike, which is an excellent thought. But for what purpose do you want to buy it? Is it for your regular traveling, leisure travel, or going for adventures in hilly tracks and roads? Once you have decided that, it will make it easier for you.
If you want to buy an electronic bike for work purposes, go for the standard category. In the standard category of bikes, you will get quality service and the basic features you usually get in an e-bike.
If you prefer to ride on a windy day, you can buy the folding e-bike; it is a little more expensive than standard, but it is more suitable. The best part of this bike is that it is foldable, making it easier to store anywhere without any hassle.
Lastly, for all my hill tracks adventurers, off-road category bikes are the best ride for you. Compared to the other two bikes it is the most expensive one, but delivers the best performance.
Off-road electric bikes are made of heavy electric parts that help sustain the road’s rough tracks and have immense battery power for a long journey. So you must decide on the right bike for you; if not, it might cost you more than it should.
Motor
Once you are done selecting a bike type, you need to look for the bike’s motor. As it will determine the power and capability of your bike, the more robust the bike you want, the more it will cost. For traveling to hilly areas, you need a motor that doesn’t create problems when going through the propelling ways. If that is the purpose, you might need to invest more money.
Battery
The cost won’t be that much as you need to charge the battery; it depends on how much you are traveling and if you want it fully charged or not. E-bike batteries are generally plug and play design, meaning you’ll be able to do it at your home. Most of them are lithium ion batteries and it won’t cost you a fortune to maintain the battery.
Maintenance
The E-bike is not invincible, so it needs tuning up from time to time, costing from $100 to $700 depending on how many repairs it needs. Sometimes it may also need replacement of some parts like e-bike brake adjustments; the replacement will cost around $20 to $35. And lastly, the essential part of maintenance is the tires.
Depending on how much you travel, the tires get flattened, lose traction. So you need to replace the tires once or twice a year. Fixing the tires will cost around $10 to $20. If you want your e-bike to run long, then maintenance is a must.
Insurance
You are already going to spend so much money when buying an electric bike. Why not put a safeguard on your investment by getting an insurance policy? You can issue an insurance policy for five years which will cover all the necessary maintenance of your bike.
This way, you can use your bike for wild adventures without worries. The cost of an insurance policy is around $120 to $200. Spending a few hundred dollars with good coverage won’t be a bad deal.
Price
Now that we have some idea about the points by which cost accumulates, let’s move to the main discussion- the price. Keeping in mind whether you want an expensive e-bike or a cheaper one, let’s see what options we have.
Expensive E-bikes Cost
If you are looking for bikes with great battery, motor, and premium quality facilities, then expensive e-bikes are your gem where the price can go up to $10000 or even more. If you are ready to spend this kind of money, you will get some superior and top e-bikes. In a list above, we have found Specialized Turbo Creo Expert and Orbea Gain M10 are the best of expensive ones. These range from $8,000 to $9,000.
The motor, battery, storage, etc., are outstanding in these e-bikes. You can easily go for mounting with these. If you are a person who loves heavy riding, you can definitely go for these. Other than that, you can choose anything ranging from $5000-$10,000 from the list. All these are top-quality electric bikes with excellent mileage and cost-effective operation.
Cheaper E-bikes Cost
If you’re thinking not to buy an electric bike as there are many things to maintain, just stay with me for a few seconds. There are bikes within your price range and of good quality, but the only cut is the lack of any special features. And the price starts from $500.
You can find Ancheer Folding Electric Bike, Cyclamatic Power Plus CX1 at a very low price. The price for these e-bikes ranges from $500 to $750. Also, many e-bikes are available in the market within this price range.
However, you won’t get much within this budget. They have some very basic qualities, such as a standard motor or battery. The storage you will get is minimal, and the warranty will be less or none. Moreover, these will not be durable enough. I’ll suggest raising the budget a bit and going for Cannondale Synapse Neo 2 or Wilier Cento1 Hybrid. The price range varies from $4,500 to $4,800, and you’ll have the best quality at a low price.
Why Are Electric Bike So Expensive?
We saw the price ranges start from $500 and topples over $10000. But what is the reason behind it? Let’s take a look into the reasons.
Battery
Battery determines how long you can travel without difficulty. The battery is considered the most expensive component in the e-bike. And if your bike runs for a reasonable amount of time, you can’t go far from the cheaper one. Using the cheaper one only lessens the lifespan of your electronic bicycle.
Two types of batteries are used in electronic bikes: lithium and lead-acid. Lithium batteries are mainly used on e-bikes as they work more efficiently than lead-acid batteries. The battery price is around $250, and if you are traveling a lot, you must take good care of your battery so that you don’t need to replace it frequently.
And as for lead-acid batteries, they are both used in cars and e-bikes. They are not so efficient compared to lithium batteries. Manufacturers always suggest you to follow their instructions for charging the battery, and that’s what you should do. If you don’t want to increase the overall expenditure of your e-bike in the long run, don’t go for cheap battery and take good care of the battery by charging it as per the manufacturers’ instructions for your good.
Motor
The motor is another vital component in an e-bike. The cost of the motor varies depending on the choice of e-bike and how vigorously you use it. Even if you use a cheap motor, it costs a couple of hundred dollars.
The motor boosts your e-bike and it needs to be selected and explicitly crafted to keep up with your adventure without any failure. Hence, the additional cost eventually adds to the purchase cost for the buyer. For example, mid-drive motors are installed in mountain e-bikes. They are more complicated than other motors as they are made of many components and go through lots of strain.
Hub-direct motors, on the other hand, are straightforward, but they are in limited numbers. And it also doesn’t have any moving parts; it just spins around the axle. This kind of motor can generate direct electricity in the motor made when braking.
Lastly, the geared hub motor is less complicated than the other motors. They can easily freewheel and pedal them out of battery like an ordinary bike. So, the price may differ regarding what kind of motor you are using.
Other components
Apart from the motor and battery that hike up the price of an e-bike, additional components are needed to make the e-bike. Such as if you drive your e-bike in different weather and conditions. They have to make sure that it is waterproof and the things used, such as drivetrains, wheels, and frame materials, are top-notch. Otherwise, if they use cheap components, they might fall during the journey and cause problems for you.
So these are the reasons why e-bikes are expensive. But if you give thought that they are not uselessly expensive. There are solid reasons behind it as using cheap materials will only cause more damage to the user and also expand their expenditure in the long run.
Factors That Affect Road E-Bike Prices
There are some factors that affect the prices of a road e-bike. They can be motor, battery, drivetrain, even some components.
Motor
The critical factor of an e-bike is motor performance. The better the motor, the higher the price of the e-bike. If you want to ride better and quickly, you need a powerful motor. A good motor is a long-term investment for an e-bike.
Battery
Besides motor power, the battery is another significant factor for the high price of an e-bike. One of the best things about an e-bike battery is it is lightweight and very efficient. Moreover, it is rechargeable, and you can see how long it will go with one charge.
If a battery provides a more extended mile to go, it definitely will be pricey. If you want to go for a long ride, you have to spend on some expensive battery.
Drivetrain
Gears are really important for an e-bike, just like traditional bikes. Nowadays, it has become an automatic transmission and can be upgraded when needed. This is an advanced feature that adds extra cost to the e-bike.
Materials
Bike frames have to be strong, durable as well as light. If the frames are heavy, the price will be low, and also, it will not be durable enough. It is crucial to invest in some suitable frames which are lightweight and durable. It will provide a smooth experience of riding. Eventually, it will cost more.
Final Words
How much does an electric bike cost? The cost of an e-bike is determined by the type of bike you want, motor, battery, and maintenance cost. Above, I have briefly described all these points. It will help you understand the cost you need to spend on your bike; if you don’t keep these factors in mind, you might need to pay more than you should have. Happy ebiking!
Hello, this is Evan Larry. The chief editor of this site, “eBikeBuster.” After completing my graduation in mechanical engineering, I worked for a renowned e-bike manufacturing company as a technician. I had worked there for almost six years, and later I quit the job and started my own business where I sell different types of e-bike and their tools and accessories. I created this site, eBikeBuster, to guide people, who are new to an e-bike and don’t have proper knowledge about its tools, accessories, and maintenance.