Electric bikes are here to stay and will play an increasingly important role in the absorption of bicycles. While some electric assistance offers obvious benefits to some riders, among cyclists in the UK, misconceptions remain about what electric bikes offer and the potential benefits they provide. Let's look at the facts behind four e-bike myths.

Myth 1: Electric bikes quickly run out of battery, leaving you with only a heavy bike.

Choosing the power level you need directly impacts your individual riding, not only in terms of long-term fitness goals but also by limiting how far you can ride with assistance. The more power you use, the shorter the distance (range) the electric motor can contribute. However, at the minimum power setting, many electric bikes have an assisted range of over 100 miles.

Many current electric bikes have accurate battery indicators and even estimated range indications, so you can precisely calculate which setting is best for your ride home. Furthermore, systems like the Bosch Nyon onboard computer even include GPS satellite navigation systems, providing different routes that can get you home before the power runs out, offering the fastest and most environmentally friendly options.

If something goes wrong and you find yourself completely out of electrical energy, it doesn't mean you'll have to push some enormous weight up a mountain. Most electric bikes are heavier than unassisted bikes. They will certainly be heavier due to the motor and battery, but the trend is reversing. High-end road e-bikes are ultra-light, and even in the city e-bike market, some weigh less than 14 kg, which is a good weight even for a regular bike.

Myth 2: Riding an electric bike is not good for fitness.

This is often the first thing people hear: e-bikes don't improve fitness/diet/cardio. However, current electric bikes are actually called "electric boosters," where the power only helps maintain a higher speed, and you still need to pedal. Of course, your workout won't be as tiring as riding a non-electric bike, but the actual health outcome difference might not be as significant as you think.

Extensive systematic reviews have been conducted on the impact of existing electric bikes, and there is good evidence that e-bike use offers clear health benefits and increased fitness capabilities, such as improved oxygen intake and increased maximum power output. One caveat is that e-bike riders may need to spend more time riding than walkers or traditional cyclists to achieve the same energy expenditure, but this report notes that the perceived exertion rate for e-bikes is lower compared to traditional bicycles, which may lead people to ride more frequently or for longer durations.

So, how much energy can you expend on an electric bike? A commonly cited figure is around 300 to 400 calories per hour, which is about 75% of the calories burned when riding an unassisted bike for the same distance. However, direct research from an e-bike blog site recorded the calorie expenditure experienced by engineer Ron Bencel when riding an electric bike. He found that he burned 440 calories in an hour, which was about 80% of the calories consumed without assistance.

Of course, such figures depend on many factors, especially how much power assistance you choose to use. But the great thing about most electric bikes is that you can easily reduce the level of assistance needed as your physical capabilities improve. This means that electric bikes also provide a very clear way to assess and develop your fitness.

Myth 3: Electric bikes are only for the elderly.

Shimano conducted a survey on this, asking 13,412 people across Europe last year about their cycling intentions and views on electric bikes. According to the survey, 8% of Europeans own an electric bike, 17% of Europeans said they might buy or use an e-bike more than last year, and 11% of Europeans said they do not cycle alone.

In country-specific surveys, 30% of respondents in Italy were enthusiastic about electric bikes, 26% in Switzerland, Poland, and the Netherlands, 21% in Spain, and 19% in France. Such high numbers indicate that these people are not just the elderly. As Cycling Industry News reported, "Overall, younger people have a strong passion for demonstrations, which is the exact opposite of the case for older generations, who were initially more inclined to seek new mobility."

Myth 4: Electric bikes are large and heavy.

As already mentioned, electric bikes don't have to be heavier than unassisted bikes, and for many manufacturers, the technological integration in electric bike user interfaces is impressively intuitive. However, this design level also extends to the integration of frame structure, battery, and motor.

Older electric bikes might have been a bit heavy, but at this point, the results of electric bike development are amazing.

Please try a fun electric bike yourself. You might feel it's better than you expected.

Related article: Electric Assisted Bicycle: City Cycle Edition