What I’ve Learned Owning Ebikes for 12 Years

This isn't really an energy-efficiency-for-the-home story, but it's worth passing along for anyone curious about ebikes as a transportation or recreation upgrade. A longtime rider shares what he's learned after owning seven electric bikes over 12 years, having had to abandon four of them because repairs got too expensive or the maker couldn't supply a replacement battery. His main warning: ebike motors, batteries, and controls usually can't be fixed at just any bike shop the way a flat tire or worn brakes can. You often have to go back to the original seller, and parts frequently have to ship from the manufacturer's US distributor. Batteries are typically specific to each brand's bikes, so if that company goes out of business or stops making a matching battery, the bike becomes hard to ride at all, since without a working motor it's too heavy to pedal normally.

He also compares motor types and bike styles. He's had repeated problems with Brose motors and now prefers Bosch and Shimano. He describes the difference between rear-hub-drive bikes and mid-drive bikes, noting mid-drives climb hills more easily because the motor benefits from the bike's gears.

His main suggestion for readers thinking about buying an ebike is to stick with well-known brands, such as Specialized, Trek, or Bulls, and buy from an established ebike shop, since that improves the odds of getting it serviced or repaired for years to come.