Pedelec vs E-bike: What’s the difference? You are probably reading this article because you have googled the difference between the E-bike and a pedelec and different blogs told you a different story.
Some must have mentioned that they are both the same thing, and others must have listed a lot of differences. No wonder they must have added speed pedelec in the middle of their blog, confusing it all for you. No worries, we are always here to help you.
Here is the proper guide explaining all the differences, pros, and cons of the e-bike and the pedelec.
Pedelec:
The word “pedelec” is the short form of the pedal-assisted e-bike. Yes, you read it right. It is a type of e-bike. But what sets it apart from other e-bikes is its Pedal Assist System (PAS). Its construction is essentially similar to a traditional bike with the addition of an electric motor right beside its shaft. All it does is boost the power that you give to the pedals, resulting in a faster and more convenient ride.
The Principle of Working:
Note: If you are not interested in the workings of the motor, you can simply jump to the pros and cons session.
The motor of the pedelec is assisted by a torque sensor. It measures the force that the rider gives to the pedals, calculates its value, and gives that value to the motor. The motor amplifies it by a certain factor, which results in an increased speed. So, overall, all you do is push the pedals with a certain force, which is multiplied to give you a greater speed.
Pros:
- As soon as you push the pedal, the motor is turned on, and as soon as you stop pedaling, the motor turns off by itself. So, you don’t have to give any stimulus separately to turn on the motor.
- These bikes provide a very smooth ride, you don’t experience any jumps or jolts.
- You can control the speed during the single ride, just the way you do on a traditional bike.
- As you are doing the pedaling yourself, the battery lasts longer.
Cons:
- Torque sensor technology is a bit expensive, so these bikes are a bit more expensive than other e-bikes.
- Speedy rides are turned into sweaty rides as you have to paddle hard.
Is Speed Pedelec the Same Thing as Pedelec?
Apparently, speed pedelec and pedelec are the same things; you cannot differentiate between them by their appearance. They can have the same body, made out of the same material, and even the same motor. The only difference is that of the motor power.
- Pedelec has a motor with a power of 250 watts, which gives you a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour. On the other hand, a speed pedelec has a motor with a power of 4,000 watts, which means you can get a much higher speed, up to 45 kilometers per hour. That’s why it’s called a “speed pedelec”.
- Different countries have different requirements for riding a speed pedelec. For instance, in some countries, you should have a helmet and a license to ride a speed pedelec. While in many, you also need a license plate on your bike. You can look into your country’s guidelines regarding e-bikes to figure out what you need. The reason behind it is that speed pedelecs exceed the speed limits that a bike should have. Fortunately, a pedelec offers the maximum speed limit and does not require the rider to have any license.
Though a speed-pedelec is faster, it is still an e-bike.
E-Bike:
E-bikes can be of two types, either having a Pedal Assist System (PAS) or having a throttle. As described above, the ones with the PAS are called pedelecs, so in this section, we will be defining the ones with a throttle.
The Principle of Working:
Note: If you are not interested in the workings of the motor, you can simply jump to the pros and cons session.
The throttle is situated right on your handlebar. It looks like a thumb button. You can easily push it up or down with your thumb while riding the bike. Sometimes the throttle is attached to the handle.
Just like on a motorcycle, you activate it by turning the handle. As you bring the handle back to its position, the throttle deactivates. But how does this throttle work? It allows you to push the paddle as per your needs and speeds up your bike.
There are certain levels of assistance, mostly ranging from 1 to 5, with 1 being the slowest speed and 5 being the highest. Let’s say you have set the level to 2 or 3, which gives an average speed.
Now, no matter how hard or lightly you push the paddle, the speed of the bike is going to remain the same.
Pros:
- They are cheaper compared to pedelecs.
- You get to enjoy sweat-free rides as you don’t have to paddle hard even at the maximum speed of the bike.
Cons:
- The speed is constant; you cannot vary it by pedaling. Every time you need to change the speed you have to level up or down the assistance.
- It doesn’t give the natural feel of traditional bikes.
- Throttle bikes are forbidden in a lot of countries.
Pedelec vs E-Bike: Which is Better?
As you can see, both the bikes have got pros and cons, so most people choose according to their taste, and we cannot make a statement for one bike being overall better than the other. Whatever the option you select, make sure your country allows it.
Where Can I Buy the Best Electric Bikes?
If you’re new to e-bikes then you should check out our store. We offer a test drive facility to its customers so that they can buy the one that suits their taste and comfort. You can also buy spare parts that behave just like the original parts and are no different from them.
