With the development of electric bicycles, new specific accessories are emerging that are indispensable or will soon become so in your eyes: batteries, chargers, consoles, tires, chains, as well as bike racks, lighting and maintenance products. But how can you be sure you're choosing the right product? Probikeshop can help.
The different accessories
- Electronic components: batteries, chargers and consoles;
- Mechanical components: tires, chains, cranks and chainrings;
- Safety and protection: lighting, anti-theft devices;
- Transport and maintenance: bike racks, maintenance products.
Batteries, chargers and consoles
Whether you're renewing broken or worn-out equipment (a battery is designed to withstand around 1,000 charge cycles), or upgrading to a more powerful battery and/or a second battery for greater autonomy, you need to take great care when changing batteries. The most commonly used batteries are lithium-ion (Li-Ion). Their weight, size, capacity, autonomy and management system vary from one manufacturer to another. Apart from the absolute necessity of using the same brand of battery as the one on your bike, there are two points to consider: battery location and power.
Concerning thelocationToday, there are two types of battery: external and integrated.
The external batteries still equip most electric bikes on the road today. There are two types:
On VTTAE and Electric Road Bikesthe external battery is systematically placed on the down tube (of the frame. So there's no problem here.
On city bikes, on the other hand, the battery can be placed either on the bottom tube or on the top tube. luggage rack. This second battery is not the same shape. It's thinner and more elongated. Each battery is therefore designed for a specific location and cannot be installed elsewhere.
The integrated batteries are being used on more and more models, offering muscle-bike aesthetics and better protection against the elements. Some brands, including Bosch, offer different models depending on the constraints of the bike manufacturers. If your bike is fitted with an integrated battery, be sure to check whether it is of the vertical or horizontal before ordering a new one, as you won't be able to install another type of battery, as the connections are reversed.
Concerning the powerThere's one piece of information you can use to compare batteries: their capacity, expressed in Watts/hour (Wh). The higher this value, the more kilometers you can cover with one battery charge. Batteries with a capacity of between 250 and 600 Wh are the most common. However, if this value is higher, it means that a battery of the same brand will weigh more. Battery capacity is usually marked on the battery or expressed in the model name. You'll also find the number of volts (V) and its capacity in Amperes/hour (Ah). The product of these two values gives the capacity in Watts/hour.
As an alternative to a second battery or as a supplement, intensive users of electric bikes may be well advised to acquire a additional charger to leave one at work, for example.
Depending on battery power, the time required for a full charge varies from 3 to 6 hours. But beyond battery power, charging time will also vary according to the capacity of the charger itself. Conventional chargers are rated at 2A. But brands have developed rapid chargers 4A and even 6A chargers, considerably reducing charging time.
Note that this possibility applies mainly to VTTAE and urban electric bikes. For road bikes, manufacturers have often opted for a solution that's as discreet and light as possible, the idea being to complement this control system with a classic speedometer/GPS.
Tires, chains, cranks and chainrings
With an electric bike, you can envisage covering longer distances at higher speeds. This is a real revolution for cyclists, but it also means faster wear and tear on components, which are subjected to greater stress than on conventional bikes. To guarantee long-lasting riding pleasure, manufacturers produce parts specially designed for electric bikes: they can withstand greater loads and are more resistant. As a result, they save you repair and maintenance costs.
You don't have to equip your electric bike with special tiresexcept for speedbikes (up to 45 km/h), which must be fitted with specific "ECE-R75" approved tires. For ordinary EABs (up to 25 km/h), you can in theory use any type of tire. However, we advise you to choose tires specifically designed for electric bikes (often referred to as "E-bike ready"), which offer optimum roadholding and a much longer life.
Visit chains are subjected to even greater stress than those on muscle bikes, with the risk of premature wear and breakage. We therefore advise you to choose a chain specially designed for installation on an electric bike. These chains are made from stronger, more resistant materials, making them more robust. They guarantee smooth, precise gear changes and are easily recognized by their logo or name.
Visit cranks and chainrings are essential spare parts that need to be replaced with care. Many manufacturers design their own cranks and chainrings. When making your purchase, you need to ensure that these two parts are compatible with your electric bike's motor. Bosch motors, for example, have relatively small chainrings with 14 to 20 teeth, while Shimano motors use chainrings with 34 to 38 teeth. Electric bike chainrings don't need to be replaced, but you can change them to suit your tastes. Finally, committed mountain bikers are advised to swap their cranks for shorter models to avoid hitting the ground on technical terrain, as ground clearance is often shorter on an electric model.
Safety and protection
Electric bicycles, especially those used for urban or travel purposes, require special attention in terms of safety: lighting and protection against theft.
With regard tolightingmost urban electric bicycles have VAE-specific lights. These take their energy from the bike's battery, but without altering its autonomy. In addition to operating continuously - i.e. even when stationary - these lights have the advantage of adapting not only to ambient light conditions, to be effective day and night, but also to the cyclist's speed. Some are even linked to the brake levers to warn of braking. In all cases, it's important to ensure compatibility with your motorization system.On electric bikes, the lights are generally attached to the front fork, and to the mudguard or luggage rack at the rear.
For locksBecause they are more coveted than other bikes, EABs need to be protected more effectively against theft. Choose chains with thick links (over 10 mm in diameter) and sturdy U-locks (with several locking points). Don't hesitate to use more than one chain to secure all parts of your bike (frame, wheels), and don't forget to remove any parts that can't be secured (e.g. on-board computer). Check that they are compatible with the dimensions of your bike, especially the lower tubes, which are often quite large due to the integration of the motor and/or battery.
Transport and maintenance
Because of their greater weight and the presence of numerous electrical components, electric bikes require special accessories for both maintenance and transport.
Several brands have launched ranges of specific maintenance products for electric bikes, with formulas that won't damage electronics and preserve your electric bike while ensuring perfect cleaning and shine.
Finally, manufacturers of bike racks have developed models dedicated to the transport of electric bicycles, capable of supporting both the considerable weight of these bikes, often between 20 and 25 kg, and their larger footprint, particularly mountain bikes, with a lower tube that sometimes protrudes when the battery is fully integrated. More resistant, these bike racks also generally feature a loading ramp for easier handling.
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