When purchasing a first-time electric bike, the first thing to do is to confirm the application scenarios and conformity. China’s national standard for new national requirements stipulates that the maximum top speed of electric bicycles should not be higher than 25km/h, the motor’s rated power should not be over 400W, and the total weight of the vehicle should not be more than 55kg. These above the norm require to be regulated as motor cars and acquire a driver’s license. Statistics on market supervision in 2023 show only 68% of the cars are up to the standards. The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau spot checks revealed that 21% of the cars up for sale have the potential of being tampered with to disable speed limit devices. The illegal modifications can reach a top speed of 45km/h, but the risk of accidents is 3.2 times higher. It is recommended to choose a model which has achieved the 3C certification. As an example, the Yadea DE2 uses a 400W motor. By testing, its distance can be up to 100 kilometers at a constant speed of 25km/h, and the vehicle weight is precisely controlled at 54.8kg.
The cost budget should account for the cost throughout its entire life cycle. The market price of entry-level electric bikes is 2,500-4,000 yuan (43% of the sales volume), but pay attention to the secretly buried costs: The average annual degradation rate of lead-acid battery is 18% to 25%, and replacement cost would be approximately 600 yuan every two years. By contrast, although lithium batteries are initially more costly at a 40% higher price tag, their cycle life can be 800 times (at no more than a 15% loss in capacity over five years). As an example, the NIU UQi+ comes with a 48V20Ah lithium battery pack that has an 80-kilometer range. From an assumed daily commute of 15 kilometers, charging cost over 5 years is only 864 yuan (0.6 yuan/kWh ×1.2kWh/ trip ×240 trips/year). Industry reports indicate that smart anti-theft systems can reduce the probability of theft by 2.7% and can recover approximately 420 yuan in insurance costs annually.
The performance parameters should align with terrain and load requirements. Mountain area users should pay attention to the motor torque. Ninebot E300P hub motor’s maximum torque is 85 N·m at its maximum climbing speed on a 15° slope of 12km/h, 62% faster than the usual 250W motor. In terms of the load carrying capacity, the aluminum alloy frame’s maximum load-carrying capacity should be ≥120kg (including the rider’s weight and the loading weight). The frame of Giant Explore E+ has gone through the ISO4210 standard test and has a vibration fatigue life of over 100,000 times. When commuting with 20% unpaved road, it is recommended to install 20× 4.0-inch wide tires. When the tire pressure is between 20-30psi, the grip coefficient can be increased by 41%, and when the shock absorption travel is ≥80mm, the lumbar pressure can be reduced by 32%.
The maintenance system and warranty policy directly affect the cost of usage. Bosch motors carry a warranty lasting for 5 years or 20,000 kilometers with a repair response time of not over 48 hours. The after-sales cost is 65% lower than that of no-name motors. The Battery Management System (BMS) should contain overcharge protection functions and temperature sensing. Random inspection of the People’s Republic of China General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in 2024 showed that the chance of battery fire in electric Bikes with intelligent BMS dropped from 0.03% to 0.004%. IPX7 waterproof rating is advisable to be supported by a model vehicle. For example, Suke TC MAX can drive for 30 minutes at a water level of 30cm, and the failure rate of the motor is 58% lower than that of ordinary models.
The most important safety configuration indicators cannot be ignored. The braking distance of dry road braking system should be ≤4 meters (25km/h) as per the German TUV certification, and the braking efficiency of the double-piston hydraulic disc brake is 37% higher than that of the mechanical brake, and the braking distance on rainy days is shortened by 2.1 meters. When cycling during the night, record the lumen value of the illumination system. The EU EN15194 standard requires that the headlight must be ≥40 lux (illuminating distance of 10 meters). The Moshou U1 Pro has 1200 lumen LED headlights, and the accident rate is 29% lower than low-illumination models. In the research on traffic accidents in Shanghai in 2023, the probability of electric bike without side reflectors being hit at night is 4.7 times greater.
Market trends indicate that technological iteration is accelerating product differentiation. China’s smart electric bike penetration rate will reach 39% in 2025, estimates IDC. For instance, Hellobike VVSMART 4.0 system is capable of monitoring tire pressure (±1psi accuracy) and motor temperature (≤2℃ error) in real-time and predicting the probability of failure 12 hours in advance. It is recommended that the choice of the OTA upgrade-enabled models be given top priority. The No. 9 F90 has added its range by 7% and maximum speed by 3km/h through firmware upgrades. A study of users reveals that the users replace electric Bikes on average after 3.2 years with a median residual value rate of 32%. In models with modular design support (e.g., replaceable batteries and communal accessories), resale premium can be as much as 18% after 5 years.