Can you ride an e-Bike without pedaling ?

You've probably already asked yourself: can my electric bike recharge itself? Can electric bikes recharge while you're riding? Or, does pedaling power the battery? Let's take a look at the myths and the reality!

Well, yes, it is possible, but not common! Generally, most electric bikes do not charge when you pedal. They need their batteries to be plugged into a power outlet to be powered. However, some models offer the possibility of charging while you pedal, although this pedal-powered recharging is often very inefficient.  

Pedaling power is used to move the bike forward, not to charge the battery. When you pedal, you are "helping" the battery since you and the battery are working together. 

However, this idea isn’t totally absurd. Manufacturers are constantly developing innovative e-Bikes with regenerative braking systems or capacitors, among other things.

Most electric bicycles do not have a system for recharging the EAB while riding. This is a relatively minor market segment as the technology is still in its infancy. 

Most electric bikes that can recharge while you ride use regenerative braking or KERS (kinetic energy recovery system). The battery is recharged through braking. This principle has been around for about two decades, and is common on electric cars, but less so on bicycles. 

The details of regenerative braking are complex. When you use the brakes, a brake sensor activates the motor to go into "reverse mode," which means it uses the energy generated by the brakes to charge the battery (instead of dissipating heat, the energy is converted into electricity). 

In a nutshell, regeneration captures some of the energy lost during braking and stores it in the battery. Only electric bikes equipped with direct-drive hub motors offer this feature. 

This is the case with ThirtyOne's e-Bikes, a French-based company that has developed a hybrid bicycle that recharges on deceleration, whether downhill or backward. Typically, two-wheelers offering regeneration incorporate the BionX conversion system. It is activated manually via the controller and features 4 regenerative modes, ranging from gentle slopes to very steep descents. Some estimate that the bike is fully charged after 186 miles. Good luck finding that much continuous downhill!

This technology is an effective form of motor braking but does isn’t very efficient. It has limitations, as you can only get a small percentage of battery charge. Don't expect it to recharge your battery to 100%! 

There is no simple answer to this question. Manufacturers often claim that regenerative braking will increase an e-Bike's range by 10-20%. In reality, this is often difficult to achieve. Instead of paying extra for regenerative braking, you could buy a second battery, which would double the bike's range. 

Let's see what it looks like in practice: 

• If you ride your electric bicycle on a flat surface for an extended period of time, in an area outside the city where there is not much traffic, you will not conserve much energy. Since you're not braking much, you won't be able to use regenerative braking as much as you'd like. You will probably only get 1% of the regenerative power.  
• If you use your electric bike for your daily commute in the city, you will be able to take advantage of this system more. In traffic, you will need to slow down regularly, and you may achieve a regenerative braking rate of 8 to 14%. 
• If you're riding on terrain with slopes and declines, you'll need to brake regularly. You'll be able to get the most out of this technology. 

There are a number of experimental designs that seek to increase the efficiency of self-charging batteries exponentially. Here are some examples: 

• The Byar Volta is a relatively new electric bike that charges its battery using the energy produced by back-pedaling. The manufacturer claims that the battery can recharge almost completely during use. 
• The Pi-Pop is a French e-Bike powered by a super-capacitor, a green technology that replaces the battery. Simply pressing the pedals stores energy, making it one of the few electric bikes with unlimited range. Its slogan: "the effortless electric bike". 
• The Vello Bike+ is a folding model that uses KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) technology to recharge the battery when descending or braking automatically. But what makes it particularly attractive is its weight: less than 22 lbs. What a feat! 
• These new models can be expensive, so consider this before purchasing.  

Currently, there is no technology to recycle the energy produced by acceleration or pedal assist. For now, plugging batteries into outlets seems to be the safest and most economical option for most consumers. 

Unfortunately, at the moment, the answer to the question "can an electric bike be recharged while riding?" remains no! Even if some promising e-Bikes are being developed, like the Pi-Pop, plugging the battery into an electric socket is currently the best and least expensive solution.