E-Bike Range Calculator

Every time you stop and accelerate again, the motor draws a large surge of current to overcome inertia and get you back up to speed. This burst of energy consumption is far less efficient than maintaining a steady cruising speed. In stop-and-go city traffic you can lose 20–35% of your range compared to open-road cruising.

Yes — fat, knobby tires create significantly more rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag than narrow street tires. You can expect roughly 10–20% less range on fat-tire bikes at the same speed and conditions. Reducing tire pressure on fat tires also increases rolling resistance further.

Lithium-ion batteries lose capacity in cold temperatures — typically 10–20% at 32°F (0°C) and up to 30–40% at 14°F (-10°C) compared to 68°F (20°C). The effect is mostly temporary; warming the battery recovers most of its capacity. Storing and charging your battery indoors in winter helps minimize the impact.

Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed, so going from 20 mph to 28 mph roughly doubles the wind resistance your motor must overcome. Expect 25–40% less range at Class 3 speeds compared to 20 mph, all else being equal.

Yes, especially on hills. Every additional pound means more work for the motor climbing inclines. On flat terrain, an extra 50 lb might reduce range by 5–10%, but on hilly terrain that same extra weight could cut range by 15–25%. Cargo on a rear rack also raises your center of gravity, indirectly increasing energy needed for stability.

Use the highest pedal assist level you're comfortable with, maintain a steady pace around 12–15 mph, keep tires properly inflated, ride on flat or gently rolling terrain, and avoid headwinds. Pre-warming your battery in cold weather and keeping it charged between 20–80% for daily use also preserves capacity over time.

Watt-hours measure total energy stored. You calculate it by multiplying voltage × amp-hours (e.g. 48V × 14Ah = 672 Wh). A higher Wh rating means more energy and more potential range. Most e-bikes with 400–700 Wh batteries achieve 20–60 miles depending on conditions.

Real-world range depends on dozens of micro-variables — exact road surface, wind, braking habits, battery age, and more — that are impossible to capture in a single formula. The conservative estimate assumes less favorable conditions; the optimistic estimate assumes more favorable ones. Your actual range will typically fall somewhere between the two.