Have you ever experienced this incredible feeling? You pedal, and instead of effort, you feel a gentle yet powerful push, as if an invisible giant kindly gives you a tailwind. That is the magic of an electric bicycle! It is not a moped, it is not cheating – it is the perfect harmony of your muscle power and clever technology that takes you further, faster, and with a wider smile to your destination.

But how does this marvel actually work? Imagine your electric bicycle as a highly developed organism. It has a heart, a power source, and a brain that work perfectly together. Let’s take a look under the hood together!

The Heart: Your E-Bike Motor

The motor is the powerful heart of your electric bicycle. It is not a replacement for your pedaling but a partner that combines and amplifies your pedaling power with electrical energy. Where this heart beats has a huge impact on your riding experience.

The mid-drive motor (bottom bracket motor): This is the balanced all-rounder and today’s standard on most high-quality electric bicycles. It sits low and central at the bottom bracket, which ensures a perfect center of gravity. The result? An incredibly stable, agile, and natural riding feeling that comes closest to that of a classic bicycle.

The rear motor (hub motor in the rear wheel): The sporty sprinter. This motor gives you a direct, strong push from behind – a feeling many describe as very sporty and dynamic. It is often quiet and discreetly hidden in the wheel hub, making it popular for light city or gravel bikes.

The front motor (hub motor in the front wheel): The straightforward helper. It pulls you from the front and is a simple and often inexpensive solution. Today it has become rarer because the steering can feel a bit sluggish and the front wheel might lose grip on slippery ground.

The pure power of the motor is measured in newton meters (Nm). That is the “oomph” that pulls you up the hill. For the city and flat rides, 40-50 Nm is more than enough. For demanding trekking tours or steep climbs in the mountains, 65-85 Nm is ideal, while powerhouses with over 90 Nm can effortlessly move even heavy cargo bikes.

The Power Source: The Battery as Your Tank

If the motor is the heart, then the battery is the energy tank of your electric bicycle. It holds the power for your adventures. Almost all modern electric bicycles use advanced lithium-ion batteries. The most important figure here is the capacity, measured in watt-hours (Wh). Simply put: the higher the Wh number, the bigger the “tank” and the further you can theoretically go.

300-500 Wh: Perfect for everyday city use and shorter trips.

625-750 Wh: The standard for long trekking tours and electric mountain bikes that travel in demanding terrain.

But the question “How far can I go?” cannot be answered with a single number. The actual range is a dynamic interplay of many factors: the chosen support level (Eco or Turbo), the terrain, your weight, tire pressure, and even the headwind play a decisive role. Riding an electric bicycle is therefore a partnership: you learn to manage the energy, and the bike rewards you with an impressive range.

The Brain and the Senses: The Control

How does your electric bicycle know when and how strongly to support you? Here comes the ingenious nervous system, consisting of the controller, display, and sensors. The controller is the hidden brain that processes all information. The display on the handlebar is your cockpit, through which you give commands and keep everything in view.
The real magic lies in the sensors. They are the fine senses of your bike:

The rotation sensor (cadence sensor): This sensor works like a simple switch. It notices that you are pedaling and releases a fixed level of support. This is straightforward and requires little effort – perfect for a relaxed ride. However, the feeling can sometimes be a bit abrupt.

The torque sensor (pedal force sensor): This is the top class of sensors and the key to an absolutely natural riding feeling. It measures not only that you are pedaling but how hard. If you pedal gently, you get a gentle breeze. If you pedal hard, the motor unleashes its full power. High-end systems measure your force over 1,000 times per second and provide such seamless support that it feels as if you have superhuman legs.

In the end, an electric bicycle is a perfectly tuned symphony of these three components. When heart, tank, and brain work in harmony, the technology becomes invisible and all that remains is pure riding joy.