A short answer to this question is yes, you can ride an e-bike without a battery. But to answer this question honestly, riding e-bikes without a battery is generally not recommended. There are both pros and cons to riding an e-bike with and without a battery.
Here, we’ll discuss when you need to remove the battery and how to make your ride comfortable when you are not using a battery.
Situations That Necessitate Removing the E-Bike’s Battery:
People who travel a lot can generally face the following two problems when they need to remove the battery from their bikes:
- While getting to the destination, such as a mountain top via chairlift, the battery needs to be removed as it can exceed the weight limit. So, after reaching the mountain top, riding the bike without a battery remains a question.
- In airplanes, the safety of the passengers is the priority of the staff. They don’t allow anything that could put their lives at risk. Batteries can short circuit for a number of reasons, so they are not allowed. So, people who have to travel abroad can bring their e-bikes but without a battery.
After reaching your destination, you can buy a battery from a local shop and install it on your bike if you don’t want to ride without a battery.
Other than travelers, people who love cycling can encounter numerous issues where they need to remove their e-bike battery for the sake of their comfort.
- For instance, you put the battery on charge but forgot to turn on the switch (silly, but that happens) or the battery died when you wanted to practice cycling for a bit more time.
- As we all know, the battery’s primary purpose is to help the motor increase your speed so that you have to exert less force. However, some people remove the battery so that nothing is helping them and their speed is solely a result of their own efforts. Their primary purpose of taking out the battery is to obtain better physical health by utilizing more of their calories.
Does Removing the Battery Harm the Motor?
No, removing the battery does not affect the e-bike motor at all. The purpose of the battery is to provide the motor with power so that it can increase the rider’s speed.
If there is no battery, the motor will not be activated, and that’s not an issue. The only effect will be that the bike will go at the speed with which the rider pushes the pedals.
How Does it Feel to Paddle an E-bike Without a Battery?
Suppose you were going uphill. Someone was continuously pushing you upwards, so you didn’t use much of your energy. Suddenly, that force diminishes. What will happen next?
You will have to push yourself up with all your force. You will probably get tired early and your speed will be slower as compared to when someone else was pushing you.
The same are the consequences of removing the battery from an e-bike. Due to the use of numerous muscles, you will be completely drenched in sweat and will likely cover the same distance in double the time.
Well, that’s the case of going uphill. While traveling from an elevated area to a lower area, you might not feel much difference.
What Hinders the Pedaling in the Absence of the Battery?
In some e-bike models, motors do interfere in the absence of the battery. They make it hard for you to pedal and slow down your speed even more. Besides it, there are many other factors that contribute equally and hinder pedaling.
For instance, the surface of the road matters. While a smooth road allows you to ride the e-bike without a battery quite comfortably, a ragged mountain surface won’t show any mercy.
Similarly, the rider’s health is another important factor. If the rider is quite muscular enough to exert enough power, he might be able to ride it in a better way as compared to a weak or exhausted rider.
Is There Any Good Side of Riding the E-bike Without Any Battery?
When riding on a mountain where there are many jumps and jolts, being battery-less can occasionally make you feel more confident. As you remove the battery, the bike becomes light and jumps very smoothly over the ridges.
The same goes when you are riding downhill. Though it is hard to pedal the bike without the battery, the loss of weight compensates for it while moving downhill, giving you almost the same comfort as the battery gives.
Tips for Riding a Bike Without a Battery:
You need to keep the battery spot safe and clean when the battery has been taken out so that it faces no issue when it is installed back. During the ride, if you find it hard to pedal, you can still use the gears. In fact, you can try out different gears to find out which suits you the best.
Tips for Prolonging the Battery Life:
Batteries are quite sensitive parts that need to be taken great care of. Never let the battery fall to 0%. Do charge it as soon as it gives you a low power signal. Similarly, don’t overcharge. Alternate between your riding modes and don’t put a heavy weight on the bike.
Where to Buy E-Bikes?
If you are wondering which company is best to buy yourself an amazing e-bike that works with and without a battery, then Revolt Bikes is for you. It is a repository of e-bikes made out of durable materials like carbon fiber and aluminum alloy and has a Li-ion battery that can travel 70 to 85 km on a single charge.
The lightweight bikes are comfortable for traveling, and removing the battery gives you an edge. If you live in the Netherlands, you can visit any branch of this company and test drive the e-bike before buying it.
Does Revolt Sell Spare Parts Like a Battery?
Yes, Revolt does sell spare parts. These are free for customers within 1-2 years of buying a bike and are available at affordable prices for other customers.
