A key to start the eBike, instead of just to remove the battery. More color customization, most models come in 1-2 colors Belt drives on $2k-4k ebikes Rear suspension included or seatpost option at a fair price
Your input to e-bike companies is not only very pro-active and timely, but you helped e-bike customers to understand even more deep about e-bike world and possibilities. Thank you very much for your thoughtful remarks. In addition since surprisingly U.S. e-bike market is behind Euro and Chinese market, your RUclips video channel is so helpful since many especially seniors are in trouble picking the right e-bike fir themselves. More education and information like yours is very timely, once again keep doing your great job. Stay healthy and hear from you next time. Ken
@@fender1000100 he made a legitimate point. Don't be sarcastic. I have an after-market tail light with a sensor that detects when I'm slowing down and functions as a brake light. It's not hard to integrate a system based on the controller that already knows your exact speed at any moment
More accurate battery level indicators - no more 5 bars, more percentages. Some companies are doing this well even giving an estimated range remaining but more should include this feature. Also I think we will see more apps going forward. Aventon is leading the way here on the more affordable bikes having app pairing and I'd guess others will follow suit,
I installed a volt meter on mine and I find it to be more useful than bars or percentages as you can tell if your battery is losing voltage from cycles.
I would just add to your suggestion for hardwired lights to include hardwired turn signals. E-bikes are commonly used for commuting in traffic and are often fast enough that they should include these for safety purposes. Great video, Micah! Thanks.
@@fender1000100 yeah if your bike is made in china the cost to add a turn signal kit and pay the worker to install it is less than $25.00 lol it's an easy upgrade
@@Timbodacious Sure but that now means you pay an extra $100 for that upgrade. What a bike costs to make. Is at least 4 times more expensive at the checkout.
1.Security - worldwide, theft is probably the biggest issue halting the growth of cycling especially in high population centres (where the benefits would be highest). Pin codes & software locks, built in alarms and tracking devices, hardwired unique codes for motors and batteries & mandatory industry wide registration scheme (so no legit servicing can take place on a stolen bike), a park mode that disengages the crank making it impossible to pedal the bike away (as it just freewheels without engaging the drivetrain) and many more possibilities. We need this above everything else. 2. Smartphone connectivity & compatibility. Why make onboard displays reinvent the wheel? Relocate the higher functionality like navigation, ride tracking, telemetry, security & configurability to apps on the smartphone - and make charging ports ubiquitous too! 3. Belts and internal gear hubs. Except for MTBs & road racers, chains and derailleurs make no sense on eBikes. Far better to develop IGH tech to suit the myriad possibilities offered by the spectrum of motors offering a wide range of torque outputs for different users. Integrated motors and IGHs are coming soon…
1. Security, yes. But anything that makes it more difficult to do DIY repairs/upgrades is a hard NO! (Like "hardwired unique codes".) Disengaging the crank is an extremely bad idea because it would have zero effect on theft for something that can easily be picked up and thrown in the back of a car or truck. Plus they can just let the air out of a tire and no one will think anything of them walking it as far as they need to. Ditto with built-in locks. Most of them are useless anyway, and they usually get in the way of customization or upgrades. Plus built-in locks makes stealing bikes EASIER because then you know exactly what tool you need to defeat the lock on a certain bike. Tracking devices sound great, until you have to pay a subscription and you find out the hard way that GPS can be easily jammed or blocked, as can any radio that wants to "phone home". If the bike is put into a metal box trailer or truck, the thief doesn't even have to do anything to defeat it, the Faraday cage enclosure will do that for them. And then the thief can defeat any electronic measures at their leisure. What really needs to happen with regard to security is that cities need to start building secure bike "garages" all over the place and businesses and workplaces need to allow people to bring their bikes inside with them. I do most of my shopping with my bicycle. I have saddlebags and it's a 20" folding bike that takes up no more room than a shopping cart and is much more stable and maneuverable. I've only had an employee ask me once not to bring the bike in, and when I've been in to a place several times they see how careful and respectful I am so there's no need to be concerned about it. The saddlebags make shopping bags unnecessary (I'm always proactive with opening them so the cashier can easily see into them) and I can often just rest items on top of them and the rack while I'm doing the shopping. Where it's not reasonable to take the bike in, I just lock the bike to something solidly stationary. Seriously, if it's in a public place with lots of traffic it's hard for somebody to steal a properly locked bike without it being incredibly obvious. And I use combination locks that can't be picked (broken or cut, yes, but not picked, and again thieves don't like to be massively obvious) and don't require me to keep track of a key. There's no such thing as a keyed lock that can't be picked, usually very quickly and innocuously, and you have to be wary of combination locks that also have a key. The only time I've ever had a bike stolen was when I forgot and left a brand new bike unlocked on my front porch overnight. Most bikes with locks that are stolen are because people don't know how to properly lock up a bike. And those stupid "U" locks are worthless because they're usually not capable of securely attaching the bike to a solid stationary object and allow the bike to be picked up and thrown into a vehicle in a matter of seconds, making defeating the lock at the thief's leisure incredibly easy. Which is another reason why built-in locks are a bad idea. With a built-in lock it's only possible to immobilize the wheels, which is basically irrelevant to a determined thief. 2. Smartphone connectivity? Another hard NO! There's nothing a connection (that is likely going to be proprietary and require a proprietary app for every brand and sometimes model of bike - no thanks!) can do that a standalone phone can't do with its GPS and a generic sensor or two that already exist. Adding yet more complexity and cost to the bike doesn't do the customer any favors. 3. Sounds good on paper, but the reality is that hub motors are far better than mid motors for a thousand different reasons, and you can't do internal gearing with hub motors. And front wheel motors are terrible. They wear out your front tire 5x faster than the rear and create all kinds of problems because most of your traction is on the rear wheel, and adding weight to the front wheel makes hopping up curbs and other obstacles much more difficult. As for belts, they are expensive, difficult to replace and require a special frame configuration. Their length can't be adjusted so you can't just buy a generic belt and pop it on, it has to be the exact correct length. Any chain that is at least as long as you need will work; all you have to do is cut it to the length you need. Belts are also prone to breaking and if you're riding on any kind of loose surface you risk damage and dislodging if a piece of gravel or a twig or mud gets kicked up into it. Chains are tried and true and last forever if given even the tiniest amount of maintenance. I have never had to replace a chain on a bike that was used. I have only had to replace a chain once, and that was because it was on a bike that had sat unused out in the weather for many years and the chain was rusted solid. Chains are the standard on bikes for many very good reasons. Belts are not only not new, they have been around far longer than drive chains. They are not common on bikes for very good reasons. That's true of motorcycles as well. There are some that use belts, but the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages, which is why the overwhelming majority of motorcycles still use chains. Bottom line: What we DON'T need is more complexity and cost, or whiz-bang features just to be new and different. What we do need is some very obvious basic safety and convenience features that add very little cost and complexity to the bike. Things like lights don't even add complexity, they make it simpler because there are no extra sets of batteries to have to replace or recharge, and in many places lights are not optional, they're mandatory. Like any other vehicle, they should be required to be OEM standard equipment.
I'd like all ebikes to have the option to mount a piggyback battery. Batteries and range are a huge part of ebikes. Most people will option a 2nd battery right at purchase. And even more will eventually upgrade to a 2nd battery later if the bike comes pre wired for a piggyback battery option. And the best part is....if you don't want a 2nd battery customers simply don't have to buy one.
As someone who lives on the side of a mountain, I would love an ebike that was prewired and setup for a second battery whether I bought it with the ebike or as a later addition. The hills can drain a battery pretty quickly, which leads to a lot of range anxiety for me.
I paid one grand and change for my upgraded battery version for my HiaBike xdurirx29r. I urn to add additional power to the bike I have ridden over 5000 miles and became 70 lbs lighter towards betr health...
"Let us choose". That is a great concept for every part of life. No lights is just cheap on the makers side. The range rating for ebikes is as accurate as mileage rating for new vehicles. Most importantly is start making them cost effectively anywhere but china.
Theres no such thing. These bikes are FACTORY tested. With light riders. At SLOW speed. So if you weigh 250lbs you are gonna get alot less range than someone who weighs 150lbs. This is plain common sense.
I'm all about safety. Alot of people share bike lanes with cars. It's not always easy. Not only headlights and taillights(but the headlights should be bright enough for night driving), the dismal one on the Radrunner doesn't cut it. Also turn signals, brake lights all built into the bike . It's so so important to have them built in. Currently, I have rechargeable turn signals for my ebikes, and I got a rear dash cam, so I can see behind me, alot of side mirrors aren't good enough. All of these things are luxuries, but really needed as safety equipment
standardization!!!! (as follows) -the basic charging port -battery form factors (or the ability to easily rebuild a pack, without solder/welding) -at least a basic wiring system that would support usb-c pluggable lights for the front/back -turn signals for road-use bikes. -follow motorcycle standards for turn signals, throttle All this is meant for joe/jame average, not the folks who need to spend tons of money to feel their, um, "worth to the world".
Standardisation would answer many of these requests. As in standard dock connections for lights, for dashcams, for phone mounts etc. Same goes for charging and battery form factor. Then the aftermarket can produce them. At least then you could trick out your bike over time without it being a horrible mess of cables everywhere as the mods would look factory.
My first thought when I saw your title was "I hope he mentions twist throttles", and you did not disappoint ! "Mature" riders are the biggest ebike demographic, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that a lot of us are motorcycle riders (or ex-riders) who want twist throttles. Another suggestion: manufacturers should let online buyers know how much bigger and heavier ebikes are than regular bikes. I know a few people who gasped when they unboxed their new fat-tire ebikes and realized they are way too heavy to ride like their old Schwinn.
Turn signals are a must! Makes your intent so much clearer on the road. That was a requirement on my bike. Makes people pay a little more attention to you
I agree with dashcams, multiple electric ports and better lights in more ebikes. I think as ebikes become more popular, safety and convenience features have to be improved. It's time for ebikes to evolve even more.
Great suggestions. I bought a Lectric about 2yrs ago. Enjoyed many rides before I sold it. My big take away is the unweilding bulk, and inability to set the seat height for both maximum leg extension, and being able to reach the ground when stopping. One more thing; where I live, many of the intersections are domed, so when taking off from a signal, I had to work like a dog to reach speed enough for motor to turn on. In traffic this is a real safety issue. Thanks for being an EBike advocate.
I'm using a different charging plug for every ebike, what a pain. I had to cut and paste the Aventon Aventure plug, which is proprietary, so I could use it with my Grin charger. Barrel plug is common but it's also very limited =(weak) as to charging capacity. The XLR 3-pin is by far the best and should be the standard. IMO
I liked the fact that you bought up some great ideas for the Ebike companies to think about . I went with the hydraulic brakes, and the twist throttle, it might use more of the battery but off road your thumb will not take a beating 😉
The light thing drives me crazy, maybe even worse when they add a wired headlight but a wireless taillight with it's own battery. It's like they're saying "we didn't forget - we did this deliberately".
Everything is about MONEY. If they have everything the way people want it you will then be complaining about the PRICE. Besides. The bike lights they put on the bikes are never that good. And if you have to ride through pitch black countryside like I do on the way to work. You are definately gonna need to add an independent head light with more power. So you can see the pot holes and debris on the ground properly. That could cause major problems. It's up to every cyclist to look after their own safety. With decent lighting.
I just got back in to riding bike a couple of years ago when I bought my first e-bike. Not a spring chicken anymore at 62, but with pedal assist, I can once again enjoying riding without having to worry if I can make up the next hill. My wife who didn’t feel safe riding anymore is now enjoying riding with me after I purchased her a e-trike. I feel all the suggestions for improvements on e- bikes would be great for both e-bikes and e-trikes.
My #1 suggestion would be to drop the "Walmart Bike" styling that is so typical of these bikes. If I'm going to drop more than $2000 on a bike, then I would hope that it at least doesn't look like a $150 department store purchase.
Dash cams and 12V outlet is nice, but I would much rather see quality hydraulic brakes as standard on e-bikes, especially when e-bikes can go 20-28 mph.
Sure, but why would you want every e-bike to have suspension. It's a disadvantage for many riders, so it's better to have some bikes with and some without. Let the buyer decide.
I do feel the FIRST, and most important thing is the legal limit in most countries, being 25km/ph. This is just stupid low. A half decent bike with a average fit ride can cruise at 30km/ph +. And skateboards and scooters already go about that fast. When you spend significantly more to get an ebike, you don't want to be going slower than everyone else on a normal bike, skateboard or scooter. But that is the reality. I would like to see the USA standard adopted which is around 32km/ph for all ebikes around the world. This brings the speed closer to a what a normal rider can do, also scooters and skateboards.
I agree with most of those suggestions especially the built in lights. I noticed some of the kits you can buy on eBay to convert your existing bike to electric, come with lights that run off the bike battery. So it can, and is, being done. And what you say about brakes is so true. They need to be able to stop the heavy bike especially if it's top speed is high. Love that coastal path, you are very lucky to live there.
Great video man, Loving the beach. I've got a Tongsheng so maybe this is available on other bikes but here is my suggestion. A 3 position battery key. Position 1. Unlocked - You can install/remove the battery. Position 2. Locked with no power - Battery is locked in the bike but not electrically active. For example, I don't want my kids riding my bike but I don't want to hide the battery or lock up the bike. Position 3. Locked with power - Normal riding.
All very reasonable and much appreciated suggestions. The advertised range issue is getting ridiculous. The other thing I think we NEED to see is companies state plainly that their 1000W ebikes capable of exceeding 28 mph may not be legal in all areas, may require registration, license and insurance, or be limited in where it can be ridden. Those of us who ride ebikes legally and responsibly can witness growing restrictions because of rude riders who ride recklessly on ebikes that exceed lawful limits.
Ebike laws are arbitrary, at best. How many auto operators do you know that strictly adhere to speed limits? My bike is CAPABLE of 60mph, but cruising @30-35mph with mirrors and functioning turn signals & brake/tail light haven't offended law enforcement to date. Further, having TONS of torque to pedal-assist up hills due to my "overpowered" drive train keeps me safer @20mph than a Levo's anemic effort.
Yours are great suggestions! I'm encouraged to see that under $1000 ebikes are beginning to be available from Chinese distributors with standard smart phone USB ports and handle bar brackets, regenerative braking, pedaling, and downhill charging. I am also grateful for a very compact folding ebike that fits either behind my compact car passenger seat (43cm thick) or in my hatch back area, leaving considerable room for my RC aircraft. My newly ordered ebike from Ali Express has the unusual feature of electric brake lights powered from the main battery WITH L/R signal indicators! Competition will bring these features to more bikes, but your idea to suggest them clearly in a You Tube video is outstanding. Wish I could visit the Tel Aviv seashore where you ride! - Jim
My wife and I have the same eBike (Rad Mission) but I’m about 150 lbs more than her. When we ride together, we ride with the same level of e-assist and same amount of throttle (we’ve tested this with 0 throttle) and my battery usage is always more than her battery. My bike obviously requires more power (or maybe my peddling doesn’t generate the same power as she does?) but I’d gladly pay for a bigger battery. On long rides, I’ve swapped her battery with mine just to ensure there will be enough juice for both of us to complete the ride.
Battery integrated lights that are usable would be HUGE! Ebikes are generally capable of 15-20MPH and having lights that not only make you more visible but actually light your path would be a massive plus for everyone on the road. Please make the REAR LIGHT BRIGHTER WHEN BRAKING as well!
Standardized connections would be great. My Bafang BBSO2 uses a barrel type waterproof connector (awesome); while the bikes assembled from parts use the cheaper JST connectors - and even then they can't agree which side (accessory vs controller) should be the male and which should be female.
2 years ago when I got my e-bike, I did a lot of research. So many advertisers would just constantly talk about the power of the bike. So?... My main concern was will it get me from point A to point B on certain settings without having to recharge. They couldn't give me that.
More than 5 bars of power. My SONDORS cruiser is a great bike with incredible range and alot of features you mentioned built in (lights in front/back, power meter, great brakes, etc) but only 5 bars to show power. A percentage would fit in the display just fine and be a great addition!
Alternative suggestion: Yes, include a wired tail light (and brake light please) but I’d suggest just bringing a 12V lead to the handlebars. You could use the power for the head light you want or for a camera or whatever meets you needs/ desires. If the company has a range of fairly priced and good quality “bolt on” solution for how to use that 12V lead by the ‘bars that could also be a way for the maker to add a bit to the bottom line AND have happier customers.
If you have 5V already, just buy a step-up converter. They are cheap. The thing you need to watch out for is how much current is being drawn by whatever accessories you're adding. Which is why I think it is unlikely a serious/big manufacturer will add a 12V plug. There's just too much 12V stuff made for cars which is crap and would require much heavier wiring and protection to accommodate safely. There's a reason jumper cables (or 12V inverter wires) are very thick or very short.
@@travcollier A. Battery cables are big because they handle a huge amount of AMPERAGE (amps), like at least 750 Watts (750 W / 12volts = 62.5 amps). If you need 5 times the output of a traditional set of car headlights you’ll need big, fat cable and a battery the size (and weight) of one from a car. With a constant power level increasing the voltage decreases the amperage and allows smaller wire, not larger. Maybe you should learn something about a subject before you post.
@@lexstockton2451 You know what "current" is? You just said pretty much the same thing I did. Maybe you should try reading before accusing someone of not knowing what they are talking about :p Anyways, the problem is that people who don't know what V=IR means shouldn't be plugging 12V accessories (typically made for cars) into an e-bike. If you can calculate the current draw and make sure it isn't too much, you are also capable of using a 5V to 12V DC-DC converter. Though it's still probably a "void the warranty" sort of thing.
@@travcollier So, you solution is to use heavier wiring and add a converter (heavy but simple linear or complex but lighter switched mode design?) and continue, as bicycling always has, to use crap because it is bicycle specific instead of using what we used to call COTS (common, off the shelf) parts made in huge (i.e. cheap) quantities because bicycle people like paying huge amounts of money for parts that are (OMG!) 2 grams lighter? You are welcome to make your own choices but, if you want to sell to somebody who doesn’t already have 85 pieces of spandex bicycle gear in their house, you might want to rethink things. You do understand this is about E-bikes, not macho “I’m a better person because my bike is 100 grams lighter” road bikes, don’t you?
@@lexstockton2451 Yeah. This is about wether bike manufacturers will put a 12V plug on e-bikes. Maybe they will, but I seriously doubt it because of the reasons I stated. If someone with a clue wants to do it themselves, it is easy. That's all I said. Honestly, it really just seems like you misread my comment. That happens you know, not a big deal
I found this informative but regarding to safety I suggest adding bells or horns to the required equipment on all ebikes. Ebikes are very quiet and some riders are new and new to multimodal trail etiquette and given that ebikes can be very fast they introduce a speed differential with other trail users that pose potential for collisions. Ebikes look fun and can provide alternatives to ICE travel but, please respect all trail users and ring a bell/announce yourself when approaching or passing other trail users.
With the exception of the range findings, every suggestion made comes with a significant cost increase. It’s not just the cost of a few dollar part. Someone has to order these extra parts, ship these extra parts, do quality control along with warranty issues on these extra parts, inventory, and make sure that the correct part gets on the correct bike. This is all very time-consuming for a manufacturer. Time is money and E bikes are already going up in prices above what most people would like to see.
A standardized battery format. Instead of a shares bike program, we could have shares battery. Drop your exhaust battery in th battery exchange machine and pick a fully charged one. No more time wasted charging a battery.
Hi, I realise this is almost impossible, but better lobbying for change. Here in the UK it's not legal to use a throttle e-bike or one that goes above 15.5mph using the motor. Governments talk about wanting to get people out of cars - but there never seems to be any follow up, e-bike companies could help add pressure for real change.
XT60 power connector. Won't happen, and most people can find a tap in the controller wiring. Open everything up. Sue the people who lock down the battery options. Tap for the battery. In an emergency, people have 500 wh of power, but not easy to tap. A standard 12v from 48v would help to use the power. Watt hour meters on the bike. Know what you have with precision. Calibrate the WH rating of the pack before they ship it. More knowledgable consumers who really understand the basic electrical stuff. Maybe they should include one of your book. Eventually everyone will have won one.
i have a suggestion for the people testing these bikes. find a hill. we need to know if the bikes can climb hills or not. if you are testing where there are no hills, try a multilevel parking garage up ramps or a motorcycle dyno. thanks
Thanks for posting this video. Awesome suggestions! (1) I second the motion on ebikes for shorter people. I mean what is this?! Do manufacturers think that short people don't make enough money to purchase an ebike?! (2) Standardized motor mount. I hate, Hate, HATE it when a motor mfg comes up with a new design but I can't drop it in to my current bike because the motor mount is different. I would have to buy a new ebike just to get the new motor! How many ebike frames are going to be in the landfill in the future because an older motor is no longer available or because the new motor can't fit? C'mon. (3) Quieter motors, please! I hate ebike motors that sound like my nephew's radio controlled car. And I hate the snarky remarks from people who hear the noise and have to comment, "Cheater!" (4) I second the motion on throttles. There are times when I've strained a leg muscle and it becomes extremely painful to pedal. A throttle would be nice to have so that I can at least get home safely. If legality is a problem, it doesn't have to get me going 20+ mph, it just has to get me home. (5) Figure out a way to integrate Iron Man's arc reactor so that we don't have to haul around a heavy battery. (6) This one is for ebike reviewers. Please kill the background music so that I can hear what the motor sounds like. (7) More color choices, please. The trend of drabby, ashpalt colored bikes has to go away. *
I hope we achieve all these suggestions. I especially like the lights and cameras. I use lights front and rear with built in cameras. It will make the wife rich if I get hit on the road. I commuted for 12 years year round. Almost got hit even with lights in the dark. I forgot how many times. Car drivers are usually brain dead on the road. And now the cell phone is too much temptation for some people. Be Well Micah.
I have chosen 20” wheels so I’m lower to the ground, but the seat should be able to be lowered. The battery gets in the way of lowering the seat. Or the seat is not adjustable at all.
Security - Security - Security ! I took delivery of my Juiced Bikes, Rip Current S about a month ago and Really, really Love it! But my largest concern, with a bit over $3k invested with add-ones, is the potential for theft ! We have 2-factor security on our mobile devices, why Not on our E-Bikes? If someone cuts through my locks and gets away with my Bike, all they need to do if acquire a charger and it’s all theirs. First: all E-bikes should have a serial # that the customer can register under their name. Second; the bike the manufacturer should require verification of ownership before any replacement parts could be shipped. Third; the owner should have the option of using 2-factor authorization to enable the bike. The implementation of these steps would be at minimal cost to the manufacturer, but would add enough aggravation to thieves, that it would make stealing them much less attractive.
Thanks for another great video! Of course there are a lot of small size people but let’s not forget the tall size people too!! I’m a tall slim guy (6’2’’-170lbs) and it’s not easy to find an ebike with a proper sized frame!
I completely agree about the lights, Is it too much to ask if I am dropping £2000 on an ebike for it to have factory fitted lights that run from the main battery that I can turn on and off form the handlebars? This should be standard on any ebike. USB power connectivity for your phone should be standard too.
My main complaint better security so a person can't just come up and turn on the bike. Yes a removal battery is goos but there is some bs that you can't even put a simple code into the consoles to lock it at least so it doesnt work without it. Something as simple as that would make me even spend a little extra on a bike I would normally overlook due to cost.
Would be nice to see more "light" road e-bikes at reasonable prices, that are more for assisting an active peddling rider. As always nice presentation Micah!
Smoother Power Delivery - while I appreciate 750 w motors and 80nm torque... its really the smoothness of that power delivery that determines rideability and feeling of quality. There are powerful ebikes out there that ride like bucking broncos with very harsh acceleration. Most ebikes are rated for up to a 275 lb rider and that rider will get a different sensation than a 125 lb rider. So it's very important to have good power / acceleration / throttle response customization to match different rider weights.
All 5 are good ideas, Micah...I've built all of mine n have integrated most of your suggestions into my builds...Thumb throttle left side, 12V transformer n lights... one thing you didn't mention safety wise? Good hydraulic brakes standard! I see too many models with mechanical brakes but the bike is like $2000+! Also the range estimates are ridiculous...I run 52V 30AH batteries on my e-gravel bike with a Bafang BBS02. Level 2, the best I can squeeze out of it is 45-50 miles, period.
slightly more modular design would be very nice. I love my Ride1up v2 roadster, but I hate the computer. I wish I had one that had a clock since I use it to commute to other public transit. I actually love how stripped down it is. No throttle, rim brakes, simple computer, super clean lines, belt drive (wish it had a 3 speed gates hub though) I just wouldn't have minded paying a bit more for some more premium features like a better computer, shaft drive with geared hub or full gates drive, etc. And absolutely better battery indicators. Also maybe a slow charge cord option? I would love to be able to ride my V2 like 10-15 miles, stop at a cafe and hook it up to my palm-sized 100w gallium nitride charging brick for 20-30 minutes and another 10 miles on the battery. That would let me ride to another town, get lunch, and then ride back easily. And a charging port for something like my phone would be nice. Letting me use my bike's monster battery to top off my electronics on off-hours is a great idea, and something the new Ford F150 lightning is going to do (literally just charge it up off-peak hours and then use it to run your entire house during the day) 12v in those twin pin accessory connectors would also let us use heated gear like motorcyclists. That's something I'd be very interested in (heated gloves? mmmm.) I also wish it had a way to quickly swap batteries, but that's a sacrifice I expected for the bike looking almost exactly like a normal bicycle form with no chunky frame tubes or visible pack. And I also wish the cadence sensor was more common. I have now tried both and the old school pressure sensor on my v2 can feel really weird in a few situations like max power/speed. And I also want a top speed of like 32mph. 25 is just a HAIR too slow for most traffic, and the motor cutting in and out when I'm really trying to keep up with traffic is annoying, though that's a regulation thing, not a company thing. I have found ride1up to be really honest about their range rating. I'm not a small guy, 6'3 and 190lbs, and as long as I keep it on power setting 1-2 with a few 10-15 second bursts of 3-4 for hills, I can easily hit their "up to 20 miles" claim. It's just on the mode 5 that I absolutely murder the battery. I used to kill the battery trying to maintain a higher speed than I needed and leaving it in power 3, forcing me to use 4/5 for hills, but when I finally started riding it more like my normal bike, at normal cruising 14-18mph speeds, I found power 1-2 (and zero if I got a little downhill) suddenly made me hit mileage targets.
Lots of great suggestions. I’m a value guy so I gravitate toward easy upgrades that wouldn’t raise price much, and safety. Better lights, brakes, honest range vs speed to name a few. I’d rather have a good core product without cheap accessories and add stuff I want as needed. Also, wouldn’t mind a charger/charge controller that gave me an 80% option to preserve battery life.
I would like honesty about what size fits the rider. I’ve had very difficult times being fitted. Particularly since few bikes can be test driven. Wish there were more bike shops where you can test drive them. Inseam does not necessarily match your height so you can’t say a bike fits a 4’ 7” tall person.
the throttle and where i position my hand is not only important to be comfortable but safe as well and having a selection that would fit your needs is a big must going forward
I'm shocked that "A keyed ignition/ON switch that locks the wheels when turned off" wasn't in there. That's on the top of my list. For anyone wanting front/rear dashcams, check out 360-degree cameras. You can mount one on your handlebars with an extension rod that puts the camera above your head height, and you've got everything you want in one file. Front cam, rear cam, vlogging cam, cool spin-round-the-biker effects.
tel aviv looks beautiful! completely agree with everything you said,here in the uk throttle is banned which i think is a big mistake for ebikes. it make things much safer at traffic lights etc .
Yes I really feel for all of the Europeans here. The no throttle thing is a bummer. Technically in Israel the throttle has to cut out at 6 km/h, but most e-bikes have a bypass for that. Of course here I am riding a throttle-less e-bike today, so it's not a necessity...
@@kevwalton272 uk ebike law allowed throttle. But when uk adopted eu ebike law throttles were banned. But ebikes made/built/diy in uk before adoption of eu law can have a throttle. I think? So diyers can say bike was built before that date (2016?) rings a bell
Nice Video! Our Juiced HyperScrambler and HyperScorpion actually has a stand-alone 12V Dc-Dc converter up to 100W, USB power, turn signal and integrated brake lights as well. We report the range figures based on the actual Wh/mile usage across a range of different riding scenarios.
Thanks for the info, Tora! Is the 12V DC-DC converter for the lights, horn, etc? If so, is there a tap for riders to add their own 12V accessories to run off of the converter?
Yeah actually there are 2 seprate 12V DC outs, one is just an un-connected auxiliary 2 pin connector that can be turned on/off from the LCD display! The other one is a little more tricky to get to and comes on right when the key switch is flicked on. There is also a unconnected 5V line with JST connection available to use.
Excellent video as always 👍🏿. The only thing I would add is, ditching the measurement of newton meters of torque for determining peak power of an ebike motor. I say this, only because it confuses a lot of people. Especially when new riders jump between different motors which 'claim' to have a peak torque of 85nm. And realise that one motor from a particular brand feels stronger than the other (not mentioning any names of manufacturers 😅). Naturally those who are in the know, recognise that internally each motor differs and thus will effect the propulsion when in usage. Keep up the vids 👍🏿
Cameras as at least an option is something I would love. But my biggest wish is affordable fully enclosed options for bad weather riding. I live in Canada and my bike gets put away when it starts getting cold and snowy. I'd love to see a trike or quad ebike that has a canopy to block wind. There were a bunch of startups in the last couple years that looked great but they have all disappeared and they all wanted huge amounts of money. I can't afford $10k+ for what amounts to two bicycles and a bit of molded ABS.
More electric recumbent trikes and bikes, but mostly trikes, and include a reverse whenever possible. VIN numbers on any E-Bike / E-Trike that have a motor more powerful than the legal street limit, this would 'help' in getting them registered if you wanted to use the more powerful option on the road. Really all bikes should come with a VIN number (not that you should have to register them), but for security in case they are stolen or if you want to DIY a more powerful e-bike.
for DIYers like myself … Industry standards for “right connections” when it comes to the internals of all ebikes. here’s what i mean: it should be universal that all ebike motor phase wires, controller phase wires and hall sensor wires match regardless of brand or model. it can be hit and miss, at times, depending on many factors like bike model/brand, controller model/brand, motor model/brand, etc. it would eliminate diagnostics tests if, say, green motor phase wire doesn’t match green controller motor phase wires …that doesn’t match green hall sensor wire. i wanna see it happen. /Bklyn👑
The second point is, how these ebikes become obsolete so quickly. You pay a hefty price and then when something breaks or the battery gets old, etc, the manufacturers have discontinued the model, parts etc. So you can't fix the bike. Very wasteful and not good manufacturer support.
Almost everything you suggested I have on my ebike except mine is a diy build but may not be as pretty as a factory build emtb but more practical and way better performance plus no proprietary battery hassles. Regarding the universal plug for charging the batteries is a great idea but I just normally make adapters that's plugs from the charger to the battery...
Some great suggestions, although I must say that in The Netherlands almost all e-bikes (except the e-MTB's) come with head and tail lights that are fed by the main battery. Great place to film ! Tel Aviv. Hope to be able to ride in Israel again soon.
An industry standard for a universal connector on throttles would be the way to go, but consumers have to demand it. Cameras aren't going to capture much if they aren't head mounted. I'm not sure if a helmet can have an integrated camera and still be DOT rated.
all ebikes should come with framelocks as standard (the type with a retracting bar that goes through the wheel spoke) a huge deterrent to thieves and a quick and easy lock to enable and disable.
I love priority current. However, the range is not that great, I got only 24 miles which is close to what priority claims. I ended up getting the piggyback battery.
Notice U chose to have the Priority Current ebike as your bike example in theee video. Of ALL the bikes I SEE, it has to be one of the best commuter / city options.
Multiple hidden battery locations would help reduce range anxiety. A standardized seat post with internal battery capabilities could be incorporated easily.
2 things I would like to see standardized is a realistic motor wattage rating & at what amps plus the big reveal of what brand of cells are hidden in your battery. When you pay $4 or $500. for a battery it would be nice to know that the amp/hr. is correct & the cells you are actually getting.
Hi Micah. Love the videos and articles on electrek. My number one request for ebike mfrs is more torque sensors. My first ebike was a Yamaha Cross Core with a mid drive motor and torque sensor. The immediate response of the motor is key to an enjoyable riding experience. Keep up the great work. David Samson, White Plains, NY, USA
an Amp Hour meter would be more accurate than bars or voltmeter reading to see how many amp hours consumed therefore knowing how many amphours left on the battery i know CA has this but this could be integrated in others as well.
I've always want a belt drive bike with solid tire, so I won't have to change the tire where that motor is located cause who wants to do that. No flat tire and belt driven ebikes, and one more thing, a lighter ebike.
While driving my car today with the heated steering wheel on I had a thought and wondered if it was possible to have a heated handle bars for the winter. Ok a bit mad I know
Not mad at all, many motorcycles have them. It shouldn't be an issue to have them on e-bikes, though it would certainly rob the battery of some range to generate that heat.
What we want and really needed is a standard battery for every bike out there. This opens up business opportunites for battery swap say every gas stations will have battery swaps where you pay $2-$5 to swap out a battery to a fully charged one. Or there could even be automated battery dispensing machines on every bike trails where you drop coins and insert your used battery and you get a fully charged one.
![The Hidden Costs Of Owning An E-Bike - What Is The Real Cost Of EMTB? [REVISITED]](/img/1.gif)
I already know that I left out tons of great suggestions. Share your thoughts here on what the e-bike industry should change!
throttles ? legal reason, cause here they are forbidden. Power control has to run through the pedals, not the fingers.
@@typxxilps Which is incredibly stupid, but that's another conversation and also beside the point. If a throttle is legal/included, give us options.
Adjustable Stem, like the one used by Tern / Gazelle.
I think it would be more useful to have a efficiente cooling system for all ebike motors.
You mentioned headlights and tail lights, but did not mention the brake light. This is MEGA important. Functional brake light is a safety issue.
A key to start the eBike, instead of just to remove the battery.
More color customization, most models come in 1-2 colors
Belt drives on $2k-4k ebikes
Rear suspension included or seatpost option at a fair price
Your input to e-bike companies is not only very pro-active and timely, but you helped e-bike customers to understand even more deep about e-bike world and possibilities. Thank you very much for your thoughtful remarks. In addition since surprisingly U.S. e-bike market is behind Euro and Chinese market, your RUclips video channel is so helpful since many especially seniors are in trouble picking the right e-bike fir themselves. More education and information like yours is very timely, once again keep doing your great job. Stay healthy and hear from you next time. Ken
And beyond just a taillight, it needs to function as a brake light as well.
And make your breakfast and give you a late night massage too 🙄. Safety is down to YOU.
@@fender1000100 he made a legitimate point. Don't be sarcastic. I have an after-market tail light with a sensor that detects when I'm slowing down and functions as a brake light. It's not hard to integrate a system based on the controller that already knows your exact speed at any moment
Brake lights are mandatory for 28 mph/45 km/h S pedelecs in Europe - but you don't find them on 25 km/h models.
And turn signals.
Magicycle has the taillight as brake light as well
More accurate battery level indicators - no more 5 bars, more percentages. Some companies are doing this well even giving an estimated range remaining but more should include this feature. Also I think we will see more apps going forward. Aventon is leading the way here on the more affordable bikes having app pairing and I'd guess others will follow suit,
I installed a volt meter on mine and I find it to be more useful than bars or percentages as you can tell if your battery is losing voltage from cycles.
A voltage meter should be standard. Owning PEV requires the rider understand what Voltage their battery is and how it depletes with riding.
This a million times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would just add to your suggestion for hardwired lights to include hardwired turn signals. E-bikes are commonly used for commuting in traffic and are often fast enough that they should include these for safety purposes. Great video, Micah! Thanks.
Sure but are you ready to PAY for all these extras. I already know the anwser. Safety is up to YOU.
@@fender1000100 yeah if your bike is made in china the cost to add a turn signal kit and pay the worker to install it is less than $25.00 lol it's an easy upgrade
@@Timbodacious
Sure but that now means you pay an extra $100 for that upgrade. What a bike costs to make. Is at least 4 times more expensive at the checkout.
Supportive
Too bad car drivers seem to think their cars didn't come with indicators
1.Security - worldwide, theft is probably the biggest issue halting the growth of cycling especially in high population centres (where the benefits would be highest). Pin codes & software locks, built in alarms and tracking devices, hardwired unique codes for motors and batteries & mandatory industry wide registration scheme (so no legit servicing can take place on a stolen bike), a park mode that disengages the crank making it impossible to pedal the bike away (as it just freewheels without engaging the drivetrain) and many more possibilities. We need this above everything else.
2. Smartphone connectivity & compatibility. Why make onboard displays reinvent the wheel? Relocate the higher functionality like navigation, ride tracking, telemetry, security & configurability to apps on the smartphone - and make charging ports ubiquitous too!
3. Belts and internal gear hubs. Except for MTBs & road racers, chains and derailleurs make no sense on eBikes. Far better to develop IGH tech to suit the myriad possibilities offered by the spectrum of motors offering a wide range of torque outputs for different users. Integrated motors and IGHs are coming soon…
1. Security, yes. But anything that makes it more difficult to do DIY repairs/upgrades is a hard NO! (Like "hardwired unique codes".) Disengaging the crank is an extremely bad idea because it would have zero effect on theft for something that can easily be picked up and thrown in the back of a car or truck. Plus they can just let the air out of a tire and no one will think anything of them walking it as far as they need to. Ditto with built-in locks. Most of them are useless anyway, and they usually get in the way of customization or upgrades. Plus built-in locks makes stealing bikes EASIER because then you know exactly what tool you need to defeat the lock on a certain bike.
Tracking devices sound great, until you have to pay a subscription and you find out the hard way that GPS can be easily jammed or blocked, as can any radio that wants to "phone home". If the bike is put into a metal box trailer or truck, the thief doesn't even have to do anything to defeat it, the Faraday cage enclosure will do that for them. And then the thief can defeat any electronic measures at their leisure.
What really needs to happen with regard to security is that cities need to start building secure bike "garages" all over the place and businesses and workplaces need to allow people to bring their bikes inside with them. I do most of my shopping with my bicycle. I have saddlebags and it's a 20" folding bike that takes up no more room than a shopping cart and is much more stable and maneuverable. I've only had an employee ask me once not to bring the bike in, and when I've been in to a place several times they see how careful and respectful I am so there's no need to be concerned about it. The saddlebags make shopping bags unnecessary (I'm always proactive with opening them so the cashier can easily see into them) and I can often just rest items on top of them and the rack while I'm doing the shopping. Where it's not reasonable to take the bike in, I just lock the bike to something solidly stationary. Seriously, if it's in a public place with lots of traffic it's hard for somebody to steal a properly locked bike without it being incredibly obvious. And I use combination locks that can't be picked (broken or cut, yes, but not picked, and again thieves don't like to be massively obvious) and don't require me to keep track of a key. There's no such thing as a keyed lock that can't be picked, usually very quickly and innocuously, and you have to be wary of combination locks that also have a key. The only time I've ever had a bike stolen was when I forgot and left a brand new bike unlocked on my front porch overnight. Most bikes with locks that are stolen are because people don't know how to properly lock up a bike. And those stupid "U" locks are worthless because they're usually not capable of securely attaching the bike to a solid stationary object and allow the bike to be picked up and thrown into a vehicle in a matter of seconds, making defeating the lock at the thief's leisure incredibly easy. Which is another reason why built-in locks are a bad idea. With a built-in lock it's only possible to immobilize the wheels, which is basically irrelevant to a determined thief.
2. Smartphone connectivity? Another hard NO! There's nothing a connection (that is likely going to be proprietary and require a proprietary app for every brand and sometimes model of bike - no thanks!) can do that a standalone phone can't do with its GPS and a generic sensor or two that already exist. Adding yet more complexity and cost to the bike doesn't do the customer any favors.
3. Sounds good on paper, but the reality is that hub motors are far better than mid motors for a thousand different reasons, and you can't do internal gearing with hub motors. And front wheel motors are terrible. They wear out your front tire 5x faster than the rear and create all kinds of problems because most of your traction is on the rear wheel, and adding weight to the front wheel makes hopping up curbs and other obstacles much more difficult. As for belts, they are expensive, difficult to replace and require a special frame configuration. Their length can't be adjusted so you can't just buy a generic belt and pop it on, it has to be the exact correct length. Any chain that is at least as long as you need will work; all you have to do is cut it to the length you need. Belts are also prone to breaking and if you're riding on any kind of loose surface you risk damage and dislodging if a piece of gravel or a twig or mud gets kicked up into it. Chains are tried and true and last forever if given even the tiniest amount of maintenance. I have never had to replace a chain on a bike that was used. I have only had to replace a chain once, and that was because it was on a bike that had sat unused out in the weather for many years and the chain was rusted solid. Chains are the standard on bikes for many very good reasons. Belts are not only not new, they have been around far longer than drive chains. They are not common on bikes for very good reasons. That's true of motorcycles as well. There are some that use belts, but the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages, which is why the overwhelming majority of motorcycles still use chains.
Bottom line: What we DON'T need is more complexity and cost, or whiz-bang features just to be new and different. What we do need is some very obvious basic safety and convenience features that add very little cost and complexity to the bike. Things like lights don't even add complexity, they make it simpler because there are no extra sets of batteries to have to replace or recharge, and in many places lights are not optional, they're mandatory. Like any other vehicle, they should be required to be OEM standard equipment.
I'd like all ebikes to have the option to mount a piggyback battery. Batteries and range are a huge part of ebikes. Most people will option a 2nd battery right at purchase. And even more will eventually upgrade to a 2nd battery later if the bike comes pre wired for a piggyback battery option. And the best part is....if you don't want a 2nd battery customers simply don't have to buy one.
As someone who lives on the side of a mountain, I would love an ebike that was prewired and setup for a second battery whether I bought it with the ebike or as a later addition. The hills can drain a battery pretty quickly, which leads to a lot of range anxiety for me.
I paid one grand and change for my upgraded battery version for my HiaBike xdurirx29r. I urn to add additional power to the bike I have ridden over 5000 miles and became 70 lbs lighter towards betr health...
@@JohnJohnson-fm9po trek has that
Bolton ebikes has a dual battery mountain bike
"Let us choose". That is a great concept for every part of life. No lights is just cheap on the makers side. The range rating for ebikes is as accurate as mileage rating for new vehicles. Most importantly is start making them cost effectively anywhere but china.
Having an honest ebike range is probably the most valuable point here. Not excluding the head/taillight as well.
Theres no such thing. These bikes are FACTORY tested. With light riders. At SLOW speed. So if you weigh 250lbs you are gonna get alot less range than someone who weighs 150lbs. This is plain common sense.
@@fender1000100 Give range on level 1, 2, 3 for 220 pound person, and then 160 pound person. then most people can do some meaningful idea of range...
Wow with that the future looks easier, thnx from South Africa.
I'm all about safety. Alot of people share bike lanes with cars. It's not always easy. Not only headlights and taillights(but the headlights should be bright enough for night driving), the dismal one on the Radrunner doesn't cut it. Also turn signals, brake lights all built into the bike . It's so so important to have them built in. Currently, I have rechargeable turn signals for my ebikes, and I got a rear dash cam, so I can see behind me, alot of side mirrors aren't good enough. All of these things are luxuries, but really needed as safety equipment
standardization!!!! (as follows)
-the basic charging port
-battery form factors (or the ability to easily rebuild a pack, without solder/welding)
-at least a basic wiring system that would support usb-c pluggable lights for the front/back
-turn signals for road-use bikes.
-follow motorcycle standards for turn signals, throttle
All this is meant for joe/jame average, not the folks who need to spend tons of money to feel their, um, "worth to the world".
Standardisation would answer many of these requests. As in standard dock connections for lights, for dashcams, for phone mounts etc. Same goes for charging and battery form factor. Then the aftermarket can produce them. At least then you could trick out your bike over time without it being a horrible mess of cables everywhere as the mods would look factory.
My first thought when I saw your title was "I hope he mentions twist throttles", and you did not disappoint ! "Mature" riders are the biggest ebike demographic, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that a lot of us are motorcycle riders (or ex-riders) who want twist throttles. Another suggestion: manufacturers should let online buyers know how much bigger and heavier ebikes are than regular bikes. I know a few people who gasped when they unboxed their new fat-tire ebikes and realized they are way too heavy to ride like their old Schwinn.
Turn signals are a must! Makes your intent so much clearer on the road. That was a requirement on my bike. Makes people pay a little more attention to you
I agree with dashcams, multiple electric ports and better lights in more ebikes. I think as ebikes become more popular, safety and convenience features have to be improved. It's time for ebikes to evolve even more.
Agreed. I've been saying for years that cars should have dash cams as standard but most don't so who knows
Great suggestions. I bought a Lectric about 2yrs ago. Enjoyed many rides before I sold it.
My big take away is the unweilding bulk, and inability to set the seat height for both maximum leg extension, and being able to reach the ground when stopping. One more thing; where I live, many of the intersections are domed, so when taking off from a signal, I had to work like a dog to reach speed enough for motor to turn on. In traffic this is a real safety issue.
Thanks for being an EBike advocate.
I'm using a different charging plug for every ebike, what a pain. I had to cut and paste the Aventon Aventure plug, which is proprietary, so I could use it with my Grin charger. Barrel plug is common but it's also very limited =(weak) as to charging capacity. The XLR 3-pin is by far the best and should be the standard. IMO
I liked the fact that you bought up some great ideas for the Ebike companies to think about . I went with the hydraulic brakes, and the twist throttle, it might use more of the battery but off road your thumb will not take a beating 😉
The light thing drives me crazy, maybe even worse when they add a wired headlight but a wireless taillight with it's own battery. It's like they're saying "we didn't forget - we did this deliberately".
Everything is about MONEY. If they have everything the way people want it you will then be complaining about the PRICE. Besides. The bike lights they put on the bikes are never that good. And if you have to ride through pitch black countryside like I do on the way to work. You are definately gonna need to add an independent head light with more power. So you can see the pot holes and debris on the ground properly. That could cause major problems. It's up to every cyclist to look after their own safety. With decent lighting.
Depends with rear light because you might change seat post
I just got back in to riding bike a couple of years ago when I bought my first e-bike. Not a spring chicken anymore at 62, but with pedal assist, I can once again enjoying riding without having to worry if I can make up the next hill. My wife who didn’t feel safe riding anymore is now enjoying riding with me after I purchased her a e-trike. I feel all the suggestions for improvements on e- bikes would be great for both e-bikes and e-trikes.
I'm with you on the throttle options and head/tail lights. Let's see if they can work on these "easy" hardware fixes first.
I’d like to see all road bikes painted in colors which are easier to see from every direction. Lots of reflective surfaces would help too.
My #1 suggestion would be to drop the "Walmart Bike" styling that is so typical of these bikes.
If I'm going to drop more than $2000 on a bike, then I would hope that it at least doesn't look like a $150 department store purchase.
Dash cams and 12V outlet is nice, but I would much rather see quality hydraulic brakes as standard on e-bikes, especially when e-bikes can go 20-28 mph.
Not a word about suspension? A heavy hard tail ebike hitting a pot hole is jarring, but with a full suspension, it's no biggie.
Sure, but why would you want every e-bike to have suspension. It's a disadvantage for many riders, so it's better to have some bikes with and some without. Let the buyer decide.
I do feel the FIRST, and most important thing is the legal limit in most countries, being 25km/ph. This is just stupid low. A half decent bike with a average fit ride can cruise at 30km/ph +. And skateboards and scooters already go about that fast.
When you spend significantly more to get an ebike, you don't want to be going slower than everyone else on a normal bike, skateboard or scooter. But that is the reality.
I would like to see the USA standard adopted which is around 32km/ph for all ebikes around the world. This brings the speed closer to a what a normal rider can do, also scooters and skateboards.
I agree with most of those suggestions especially the built in lights. I noticed some of the kits you can buy on eBay to convert your existing bike to electric, come with lights that run off the bike battery. So it can, and is, being done. And what you say about brakes is so true. They need to be able to stop the heavy bike especially if it's top speed is high. Love that coastal path, you are very lucky to live there.
Great video man, Loving the beach. I've got a Tongsheng so maybe this is available on other bikes but here is my suggestion. A 3 position battery key.
Position 1. Unlocked - You can install/remove the battery.
Position 2. Locked with no power - Battery is locked in the bike but not electrically active. For example, I don't want my kids riding my bike but I don't want to hide the battery or lock up the bike.
Position 3. Locked with power - Normal riding.
Thats how the lectric bike battery works
@@Savedcitytitan7118 I can second that with the Lectric XP 2.0
@@117-Z3U5 yes I should have specified. Not sure if the original lectric bike is the same
Rad power battery works like this too. Well not the newer integrated ones.
All very reasonable and much appreciated suggestions. The advertised range issue is getting ridiculous. The other thing I think we NEED to see is companies state plainly that their 1000W ebikes capable of exceeding 28 mph may not be legal in all areas, may require registration, license and insurance, or be limited in where it can be ridden. Those of us who ride ebikes legally and responsibly can witness growing restrictions because of rude riders who ride recklessly on ebikes that exceed lawful limits.
Ebike laws are arbitrary, at best. How many auto operators do you know that strictly adhere to speed limits? My bike is CAPABLE of 60mph, but cruising @30-35mph with mirrors and functioning turn signals & brake/tail light haven't offended law enforcement to date. Further, having TONS of torque to pedal-assist up hills due to my "overpowered" drive train keeps me safer @20mph than a Levo's anemic effort.
Yours are great suggestions!
I'm encouraged to see that under $1000 ebikes are beginning to be available from Chinese distributors with standard smart phone USB ports and handle bar brackets, regenerative braking, pedaling, and downhill charging.
I am also grateful for a very compact folding ebike that fits either behind my compact car passenger seat (43cm thick) or in my hatch back area, leaving considerable room for my RC aircraft.
My newly ordered ebike from Ali Express has the unusual feature of electric brake lights powered from the main battery WITH L/R signal indicators!
Competition will bring these features to more bikes, but your idea to suggest them clearly in a You Tube video is outstanding.
Wish I could visit the Tel Aviv seashore where you ride! - Jim
My wife and I have the same eBike (Rad Mission) but I’m about 150 lbs more than her. When we ride together, we ride with the same level of e-assist and same amount of throttle (we’ve tested this with 0 throttle) and my battery usage is always more than her battery. My bike obviously requires more power (or maybe my peddling doesn’t generate the same power as she does?) but I’d gladly pay for a bigger battery. On long rides, I’ve swapped her battery with mine just to ensure there will be enough juice for both of us to complete the ride.
Battery integrated lights that are usable would be HUGE! Ebikes are generally capable of 15-20MPH and having lights that not only make you more visible but actually light your path would be a massive plus for everyone on the road. Please make the REAR LIGHT BRIGHTER WHEN BRAKING as well!
Standardized connections would be great. My Bafang BBSO2 uses a barrel type waterproof connector (awesome); while the bikes assembled from parts use the cheaper JST connectors - and even then they can't agree which side (accessory vs controller) should be the male and which should be female.
2 years ago when I got my e-bike,
I did a lot of research. So many advertisers would just constantly talk about the power of the bike. So?...
My main concern was will it get me from point A to point B on certain settings without having to recharge.
They couldn't give me that.
I like the 12v port concept. Did anyone mention a horn? A LOUD horn? Would love one!! Thanks
More than 5 bars of power. My SONDORS cruiser is a great bike with incredible range and alot of features you mentioned built in (lights in front/back, power meter, great brakes, etc) but only 5 bars to show power. A percentage would fit in the display just fine and be a great addition!
Aventon does that. I love that on my Aventure.
Alternative suggestion: Yes, include a wired tail light (and brake light please) but I’d suggest just bringing a 12V lead to the handlebars. You could use the power for the head light you want or for a camera or whatever meets you needs/ desires. If the company has a range of fairly priced and good quality “bolt on” solution for how to use that 12V lead by the ‘bars that could also be a way for the maker to add a bit to the bottom line AND have happier customers.
If you have 5V already, just buy a step-up converter. They are cheap.
The thing you need to watch out for is how much current is being drawn by whatever accessories you're adding. Which is why I think it is unlikely a serious/big manufacturer will add a 12V plug. There's just too much 12V stuff made for cars which is crap and would require much heavier wiring and protection to accommodate safely. There's a reason jumper cables (or 12V inverter wires) are very thick or very short.
@@travcollier A. Battery cables are big because they handle a huge amount of AMPERAGE (amps), like at least 750 Watts (750 W / 12volts = 62.5 amps). If you need 5 times the output of a traditional set of car headlights you’ll need big, fat cable and a battery the size (and weight) of one from a car. With a constant power level increasing the voltage decreases the amperage and allows smaller wire, not larger. Maybe you should learn something about a subject before you post.
@@lexstockton2451 You know what "current" is? You just said pretty much the same thing I did. Maybe you should try reading before accusing someone of not knowing what they are talking about :p
Anyways, the problem is that people who don't know what V=IR means shouldn't be plugging 12V accessories (typically made for cars) into an e-bike. If you can calculate the current draw and make sure it isn't too much, you are also capable of using a 5V to 12V DC-DC converter. Though it's still probably a "void the warranty" sort of thing.
@@travcollier So, you solution is to use heavier wiring and add a converter (heavy but simple linear or complex but lighter switched mode design?) and continue, as bicycling always has, to use crap because it is bicycle specific instead of using what we used to call COTS (common, off the shelf) parts made in huge (i.e. cheap) quantities because bicycle people like paying huge amounts of money for parts that are (OMG!) 2 grams lighter? You are welcome to make your own choices but, if you want to sell to somebody who doesn’t already have 85 pieces of spandex bicycle gear in their house, you might want to rethink things. You do understand this is about E-bikes, not macho “I’m a better person because my bike is 100 grams lighter” road bikes, don’t you?
@@lexstockton2451 Yeah. This is about wether bike manufacturers will put a 12V plug on e-bikes. Maybe they will, but I seriously doubt it because of the reasons I stated. If someone with a clue wants to do it themselves, it is easy. That's all I said.
Honestly, it really just seems like you misread my comment. That happens you know, not a big deal
I found this informative but regarding to safety I suggest adding bells or horns to the required equipment on all ebikes. Ebikes are very quiet and some riders are new and new to multimodal trail etiquette and given that ebikes can be very fast they introduce a speed differential with other trail users that pose potential for collisions. Ebikes look fun and can provide alternatives to ICE travel but, please respect all trail users and ring a bell/announce yourself when approaching or passing other trail users.
You're right, I should have mentioned bells. That's also required equipment, in my opinion.
With the exception of the range findings, every suggestion made comes with a significant cost increase. It’s not just the cost of a few dollar part. Someone has to order these extra parts, ship these extra parts, do quality control along with warranty issues on these extra parts, inventory, and make sure that the correct part gets on the correct bike. This is all very time-consuming for a manufacturer. Time is money and E bikes are already going up in prices above what most people would like to see.
A standardized battery format. Instead of a shares bike program, we could have shares battery. Drop your exhaust battery in th battery exchange machine and pick a fully charged one. No more time wasted charging a battery.
Hi, I realise this is almost impossible, but better lobbying for change. Here in the UK it's not legal to use a throttle e-bike or one that goes above 15.5mph using the motor. Governments talk about wanting to get people out of cars - but there never seems to be any follow up, e-bike companies could help add pressure for real change.
Improve heat dissipation on hub motors with cooling fins; like those that were used on motorcycle drum brakes in the 60s.
XT60 power connector. Won't happen, and most people can find a tap in the controller wiring. Open everything up. Sue the people who lock down the battery options. Tap for the battery. In an emergency, people have 500 wh of power, but not easy to tap. A standard 12v from 48v would help to use the power. Watt hour meters on the bike. Know what you have with precision. Calibrate the WH rating of the pack before they ship it. More knowledgable consumers who really understand the basic electrical stuff. Maybe they should include one of your book. Eventually everyone will have won one.
i have a suggestion for the people testing these bikes. find a hill. we need to know if the bikes can climb hills or not. if you are testing where there are no hills, try a multilevel parking garage up ramps or a motorcycle dyno. thanks
Thanks for posting this video. Awesome suggestions!
(1) I second the motion on ebikes for shorter people. I mean what is this?! Do manufacturers think that short people don't make enough money to purchase an ebike?!
(2) Standardized motor mount. I hate, Hate, HATE it when a motor mfg comes up with a new design but I can't drop it in to my current bike because the motor mount is different. I would have to buy a new ebike just to get the new motor! How many ebike frames are going to be in the landfill in the future because an older motor is no longer available or because the new motor can't fit? C'mon.
(3) Quieter motors, please! I hate ebike motors that sound like my nephew's radio controlled car. And I hate the snarky remarks from people who hear the noise and have to comment, "Cheater!"
(4) I second the motion on throttles. There are times when I've strained a leg muscle and it becomes extremely painful to pedal. A throttle would be nice to have so that I can at least get home safely. If legality is a problem, it doesn't have to get me going 20+ mph, it just has to get me home.
(5) Figure out a way to integrate Iron Man's arc reactor so that we don't have to haul around a heavy battery.
(6) This one is for ebike reviewers. Please kill the background music so that I can hear what the motor sounds like.
(7) More color choices, please. The trend of drabby, ashpalt colored bikes has to go away.
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On the first build - stolen last March - I used Mobil-28 grease on a BBS-HD. It was nearly *dead silent* save under *heavy* acceleration.
An easier way to fix the ebike controller. Most times the mosfet Burnes out, needs to be an easier mosfet fuse design for easy replace of a 2$ part.
I hope we achieve all these suggestions. I especially like the lights and cameras. I use lights front and rear with built in cameras. It will make the wife rich if I get hit on the road. I commuted for 12 years year round. Almost got hit even with lights in the dark. I forgot how many times. Car drivers are usually brain dead on the road. And now the cell phone is too much temptation for some people. Be Well Micah.
A lot of good info for the ebike manufacturers hope they listen.
I think you are doing a great service to the e-bike community, keep it up.
You rock! Thanks for being the voice of this community
I want to see batteries approved by UL/CSA/CE for fire safety.
I have chosen 20” wheels so I’m lower to the ground, but the seat should be able to be lowered. The battery gets in the way of lowering the seat. Or the seat is not adjustable at all.
Security - Security - Security ! I took delivery of my Juiced Bikes, Rip Current S about a month ago and Really, really Love it! But my largest concern, with a bit over $3k invested with add-ones, is the potential for theft ! We have 2-factor security on our mobile devices, why Not on our E-Bikes? If someone cuts through my locks and gets away with my Bike, all they need to do if acquire a charger and it’s all theirs. First: all E-bikes should have a serial # that the customer can register under their name. Second; the bike the manufacturer should require verification of ownership before any replacement parts could be shipped. Third; the owner should have the option of using 2-factor authorization to enable the bike. The implementation of these steps would be at minimal cost to the manufacturer, but would add enough aggravation to thieves, that it would make stealing them much less attractive.
Thanks for another great video! Of course there are a lot of small size people but let’s not forget the tall size people too!! I’m a tall slim guy (6’2’’-170lbs) and it’s not easy to find an ebike with a proper sized frame!
I completely agree about the lights, Is it too much to ask if I am dropping £2000 on an ebike for it to have factory fitted lights that run from the main battery that I can turn on and off form the handlebars? This should be standard on any ebike. USB power connectivity for your phone should be standard too.
My main complaint better security so a person can't just come up and turn on the bike. Yes a removal battery is goos but there is some bs that you can't even put a simple code into the consoles to lock it at least so it doesnt work without it. Something as simple as that would make me even spend a little extra on a bike I would normally overlook due to cost.
Would be nice to see more "light" road e-bikes at reasonable prices, that are more for assisting an active peddling rider. As always nice presentation Micah!
More older people are riding ebikes; we need a more comfortable seat!
Smoother Power Delivery - while I appreciate 750 w motors and 80nm torque... its really the smoothness of that power delivery that determines rideability and feeling of quality. There are powerful ebikes out there that ride like bucking broncos with very harsh acceleration. Most ebikes are rated for up to a 275 lb rider and that rider will get a different sensation than a 125 lb rider. So it's very important to have good power / acceleration / throttle response customization to match different rider weights.
All 5 are good ideas, Micah...I've built all of mine n have integrated most of your suggestions into my builds...Thumb throttle left side, 12V transformer n lights...
one thing you didn't mention safety wise?
Good hydraulic brakes standard! I see too many models with mechanical brakes but the bike is like $2000+!
Also the range estimates are ridiculous...I run 52V 30AH batteries on my e-gravel bike with a Bafang BBS02. Level 2, the best I can squeeze out of it is 45-50 miles, period.
slightly more modular design would be very nice. I love my Ride1up v2 roadster, but I hate the computer. I wish I had one that had a clock since I use it to commute to other public transit. I actually love how stripped down it is. No throttle, rim brakes, simple computer, super clean lines, belt drive (wish it had a 3 speed gates hub though) I just wouldn't have minded paying a bit more for some more premium features like a better computer, shaft drive with geared hub or full gates drive, etc.
And absolutely better battery indicators. Also maybe a slow charge cord option? I would love to be able to ride my V2 like 10-15 miles, stop at a cafe and hook it up to my palm-sized 100w gallium nitride charging brick for 20-30 minutes and another 10 miles on the battery. That would let me ride to another town, get lunch, and then ride back easily. And a charging port for something like my phone would be nice. Letting me use my bike's monster battery to top off my electronics on off-hours is a great idea, and something the new Ford F150 lightning is going to do (literally just charge it up off-peak hours and then use it to run your entire house during the day)
12v in those twin pin accessory connectors would also let us use heated gear like motorcyclists. That's something I'd be very interested in (heated gloves? mmmm.)
I also wish it had a way to quickly swap batteries, but that's a sacrifice I expected for the bike looking almost exactly like a normal bicycle form with no chunky frame tubes or visible pack.
And I also wish the cadence sensor was more common. I have now tried both and the old school pressure sensor on my v2 can feel really weird in a few situations like max power/speed.
And I also want a top speed of like 32mph. 25 is just a HAIR too slow for most traffic, and the motor cutting in and out when I'm really trying to keep up with traffic is annoying, though that's a regulation thing, not a company thing.
I have found ride1up to be really honest about their range rating. I'm not a small guy, 6'3 and 190lbs, and as long as I keep it on power setting 1-2 with a few 10-15 second bursts of 3-4 for hills, I can easily hit their "up to 20 miles" claim. It's just on the mode 5 that I absolutely murder the battery. I used to kill the battery trying to maintain a higher speed than I needed and leaving it in power 3, forcing me to use 4/5 for hills, but when I finally started riding it more like my normal bike, at normal cruising 14-18mph speeds, I found power 1-2 (and zero if I got a little downhill) suddenly made me hit mileage targets.
Lots of great suggestions. I’m a value guy so I gravitate toward easy upgrades that wouldn’t raise price much, and safety. Better lights, brakes, honest range vs speed to name a few. I’d rather have a good core product without cheap accessories and add stuff I want as needed. Also, wouldn’t mind a charger/charge controller that gave me an 80% option to preserve battery life.
I wish we could get 80% chargers. The only ones i have seen are ridiculously expensive
Certainly a more honest assessment of range capability would be a big plus. But all those suggestions are worthwhile.
Standard batteries! Standard chargers!
I agree.
Long hair is looking good.
I enjoy your channel.
I would like honesty about what size fits the rider. I’ve had very difficult times being fitted. Particularly since few bikes can be test driven. Wish there were more bike shops where you can test drive them. Inseam does not necessarily match your height so you can’t say a bike fits a 4’ 7” tall person.
the throttle and where i position my hand is not only important to be comfortable but safe as well and having a selection that would fit your needs is a big must going forward
Brake lights, turn signals and a very loud horn. Also quit shipping bikes with crappy seats we are just going to have to replace.
I'm shocked that "A keyed ignition/ON switch that locks the wheels when turned off" wasn't in there. That's on the top of my list.
For anyone wanting front/rear dashcams, check out 360-degree cameras. You can mount one on your handlebars with an extension rod that puts the camera above your head height, and you've got everything you want in one file. Front cam, rear cam, vlogging cam, cool spin-round-the-biker effects.
That place looks so beautiful.
A great feature they can add is usb-c DP charge port, which would allow so many electronics to get charged.
tel aviv looks beautiful! completely agree with everything you said,here in the uk throttle is banned which i think is a big mistake for ebikes. it make things much safer at traffic lights etc .
Fuck the no throttle law my bike is grandfather'ed in
Yes I really feel for all of the Europeans here. The no throttle thing is a bummer. Technically in Israel the throttle has to cut out at 6 km/h, but most e-bikes have a bypass for that. Of course here I am riding a throttle-less e-bike today, so it's not a necessity...
@@gerardjachymiak5822 im not sure what you mean by grandfatherd in? but all my my ebikes [currently 4] have throttle as built before 2016, uk law.
@@kevwalton272 uk ebike law allowed throttle. But when uk adopted eu ebike law throttles were banned.
But ebikes made/built/diy in uk before adoption of eu law can have a throttle. I think?
So diyers can say bike was built before that date (2016?) rings a bell
@@colincampbell4261 1st jan 2016 is the date throttles were banned cheers.
Nice Video! Our Juiced HyperScrambler and HyperScorpion actually has a stand-alone 12V Dc-Dc converter up to 100W, USB power, turn signal and integrated brake lights as well. We report the range figures based on the actual Wh/mile usage across a range of different riding scenarios.
Thanks for the info, Tora! Is the 12V DC-DC converter for the lights, horn, etc? If so, is there a tap for riders to add their own 12V accessories to run off of the converter?
Yeah actually there are 2 seprate 12V DC outs, one is just an un-connected auxiliary 2 pin connector that can be turned on/off from the LCD display! The other one is a little more tricky to get to and comes on right when the key switch is flicked on. There is also a unconnected 5V line with JST connection available to use.
Ok that's pretty awesome! Juiced officially wins the "Give us accessory power taps" award from me!
Excellent video as always 👍🏿.
The only thing I would add is, ditching the measurement of newton meters of torque for determining peak power of an ebike motor.
I say this, only because it confuses a lot of people. Especially when new riders jump between different motors which 'claim' to have a peak torque of 85nm. And realise that one motor from a particular brand feels stronger than the other (not mentioning any names of manufacturers 😅).
Naturally those who are in the know, recognise that internally each motor differs and thus will effect the propulsion when in usage.
Keep up the vids 👍🏿
Cameras as at least an option is something I would love. But my biggest wish is affordable fully enclosed options for bad weather riding. I live in Canada and my bike gets put away when it starts getting cold and snowy. I'd love to see a trike or quad ebike that has a canopy to block wind. There were a bunch of startups in the last couple years that looked great but they have all disappeared and they all wanted huge amounts of money. I can't afford $10k+ for what amounts to two bicycles and a bit of molded ABS.
More electric recumbent trikes and bikes, but mostly trikes, and include a reverse whenever possible.
VIN numbers on any E-Bike / E-Trike that have a motor more powerful than the legal street limit, this would 'help' in getting them registered if you wanted to use the more powerful option on the road. Really all bikes should come with a VIN number (not that you should have to register them), but for security in case they are stolen or if you want to DIY a more powerful e-bike.
Great points, The 12v port would be great as a way to add aftermarket lights to the bike or other motorcycle accessory.
for DIYers like myself … Industry standards for “right connections” when it comes to the internals of all ebikes.
here’s what i mean: it should be universal that all ebike motor phase wires, controller phase wires and hall sensor wires match regardless of brand or model.
it can be hit and miss, at times, depending on many factors like bike model/brand, controller model/brand, motor model/brand, etc.
it would eliminate diagnostics tests if, say, green motor phase wire doesn’t match green controller motor phase wires …that doesn’t match green hall sensor wire.
i wanna see it happen.
/Bklyn👑
The second point is, how these ebikes become obsolete so quickly. You pay a hefty price and then when something breaks or the battery gets old, etc, the manufacturers have discontinued the model, parts etc. So you can't fix the bike. Very wasteful and not good manufacturer support.
Great video, I hope that they will do some of what you had stated.
Almost everything you suggested I have on my ebike except mine is a diy build but may not be as pretty as a factory build emtb but more practical and way better performance plus no proprietary battery hassles.
Regarding the universal plug for charging the batteries is a great idea but I just normally make adapters that's plugs from the charger to the battery...
Some great suggestions, although I must say that in The Netherlands almost all e-bikes (except the e-MTB's) come with head and tail lights that are fed by the main battery. Great place to film ! Tel Aviv. Hope to be able to ride in Israel again soon.
Great to see that you still ride the Priority Current bike. I think that you have had it a year now.
An industry standard for a universal connector on throttles would be the way to go, but consumers have to demand it.
Cameras aren't going to capture much if they aren't head mounted. I'm not sure if a helmet can have an integrated camera and still be DOT rated.
It looks a bit odd,but I bought a bike helmet that has a camera mount on it.People drive better around me when they think it's on.
all ebikes should come with framelocks as standard (the type with a retracting bar that goes through the wheel spoke)
a huge deterrent to thieves and a quick and easy lock to enable and disable.
I would like to see more options of affordable e-bikes with torque sensor instead of pass. But then I remember I'm in Colombia...
Assuming e-bike owners are mechanically inclined ("Throw 'em in the box and let US choose which throttle to install") is his 1st mistake.
I love priority current. However, the range is not that great, I got only 24 miles which is close to what priority claims. I ended up getting the piggyback battery.
Better lights and more frame sizes
Notice U chose to have the Priority Current ebike as your bike example in theee video. Of ALL the bikes I SEE, it has to be one of the best commuter / city options.
Yea I really love it. Of all my e-bikes, it's my go-to for daily urban riding.
Multiple hidden battery locations would help reduce range anxiety. A standardized seat post with internal battery capabilities could be incorporated easily.
Love these suggestions! I hope the bike makers listen!
2 things I would like to see standardized is a realistic motor wattage rating & at what amps plus the big reveal of what brand of cells are hidden in your battery. When you pay $4 or $500. for a battery it would be nice to know that the amp/hr. is correct & the cells you are actually getting.
Hi Micah. Love the videos and articles on electrek. My number one request for ebike mfrs is more torque sensors. My first ebike was a Yamaha Cross Core with a mid drive motor and torque sensor. The immediate response of the motor is key to an enjoyable riding experience. Keep up the great work.
David Samson, White Plains, NY, USA
an Amp Hour meter would be more accurate than bars or voltmeter reading to see how many amp hours consumed therefore knowing how many amphours left on the battery i know CA has this but this could be integrated in others as well.
I've always want a belt drive bike with solid tire, so I won't have to change the tire where that motor is located cause who wants to do that. No flat tire and belt driven ebikes, and one more thing, a lighter ebike.
While driving my car today with the heated steering wheel on I had a thought and wondered if it was possible to have a heated handle bars for the winter. Ok a bit mad I know
Not mad at all, many motorcycles have them. It shouldn't be an issue to have them on e-bikes, though it would certainly rob the battery of some range to generate that heat.
I bought an 8 dollar removable light. I can use it on the bike or off. Recharges with usb. No big deal.
What we want and really needed is a standard battery for every bike out there. This opens up business opportunites for battery swap say every gas stations will have battery swaps where you pay $2-$5 to swap out a battery to a fully charged one. Or there could even be automated battery dispensing machines on every bike trails where you drop coins and insert your used battery and you get a fully charged one.