Understanding Electric Bike Power: Measuring in Watts, not CC's

When considering the power of an electric bike, one might be tempted to ask about the 'cc' - cubic centimeters - as we often do with gasoline engines. However, this measurement is not applicable to electric bikes. Electric bikes operate on electric motors, which are measured in watts (W) rather than the engine displacement measure of 'cc' used for internal combustion engines.

So, how do we quantify the power of an electric bike? The answer lies in understanding watts and watt-hours. The power of an electric bike motor is expressed in terms of watts. It represents the motor's capability to produce power, with most ebike motors ranging anywhere from 250 watts to around 1000 watts or more for high-powered versions.

Watt-hours (Wh), on the other hand, gives you the measure of the electric bike's battery capacity. This number is critical as it suggests how long you can ride before needing a recharge. It's calculated by multiplying the battery's voltage (V) by the amp-hours (Ah). For example, a 48V battery with a capacity of 10Ah would have a total capacity of 480Wh.

For those more familiar with traditional gasoline engine measurements, converting cc's to watts does not translate directly due to the drastic differences in power source and delivery mechanics. A 50cc gas engine does not equal a 50-watt electric motor. Instead, electric bikes need