Can You Pedal an Electric Bike Without a Battery?

Electric Bikes make city commuting or riding a bike for pleasure easier, faster and more accessible to riders of different abilities, thanks to strong electric motors that can either assist a rider with pedaling the bike or power the bike independently of the pedals via a throttle.

 

 

Electric Bikes fall into two main categories, with lots of variations in-between. Some can be used without a battery, and some can’t. Let’s examine each case.

 

Pedal-assist e-bikes have onboard sensors which automatically sense when a rider is pedaling, signaling the battery to start supplying power to the motor. In most pedal-assist e-bikes, cadence sensor is often found. This sensor can tell when you are pedaling and how often. Because pedal-assist e-bikes use physical pedals to tell the motor when to assist the rider, they can also be used without a battery, just by pedaling normally!

 

Throttle control e-bikes use a manual throttle to control the amount of power being delivered to the motor. This can either be a lever operated by the rider’s thumb or a twist throttle, much like a motorcycle. As soon as the rider uses the throttle, the battery sends power to the motor and the e-bike accelerates. E-bikes that are controlled solely by a throttle do not come with pedals and are operated much like a moped or motorcycle. As such they usually follow the same road laws as mopeds and small motorcycles. Because these kinds of e-bikes do not have any pedals, they cannot be used without a battery. They rely entirely on the battery to supply power to the motor and have no other way to be used.

 

However, some e-bikes designed to primarily use the throttle also have an optional pedal assist. These are usually more powerful than normal pedal-assist e-bikes, which can be pedaled to extend range and reduce battery usage. Because these e-bikes have pedals, they can be used without a battery.

 

 

To Save Battery Charge

Sometimes you might need to use your e-bike for a long distance without charging it. Pedaling the e-bike without using power from the battery allows you to save charge for when you really need it, such as on a long or steep hill, or once you start to get tired.

For Exercise

It is also possible to use an e-bike without a battery to get more of a workout from riding. The resistance created by some e-bike motors can make cycling without a battery even more challenging than a standard bike! This is great exercise for the leg muscles and for cardio.

 

Practice

The weight and center of gravity of an e-bike can be very different to a normal bicycle. As such, removing the battery saves some weight and allows a rider to get used to the e-bike before they try it with the battery. Pedal-assist and throttle controls also take some getting used to, so becoming familiar with the weight and center of gravity of an e-bike by pedaling it unpowered could be helpful for new riders.

 

Pedaling an electric bike without motor assistance will definitely feel heavier, however this depends a lot on the type of terrain you’re cycling over and your individual level of fitness.

 

Motor resistance also plays a factor. Some motors, such as crank drive motors, provide greater resistance when unpowered which will make pedaling feel much heavier. In some models, this may also affect freewheeling. Other types of motors such as hub drive barely create any resistance at all.