The median e-bike in our catalogue claims a range of 97 km. Our estimate for that same bike, riding in ordinary conditions, is 47 km. That is a 50 percent overclaim. Across all 505 bikes, 483 claim more than our estimate. The widest overclaim is 84 percent. The brands that overstate the most are the ones with the biggest gaps between their marketing numbers and our formula. But a wide gap is not dishonesty. It is the difference between a test lab and your commute.
How We Compare Claims and Estimates
Our catalogue holds 505 e-bikes from 62 brands. For each bike, we record the manufacturer's claimed range. Then we estimate a range using our published formula. The formula starts with battery size in watt hours. It applies consumption rates for four assist levels: Eco 7 Wh per km, Tour 11, Sport 15, Turbo 20. Then it multiplies by terrain, tyre, temperature, and pace factors. It also adjusts for rider weight, 1 percent per 5 kg either side of 80 kg. The result is a single estimate, and we show it as a band of plus or minus 12 percent.
For example, a 720 Wh battery, which is the median size in our catalogue, gives these estimates. Easy riding, meaning Eco assist, flat terrain, road tyres, mild weather, relaxed pace: 94 km, with a band of 82 to 105 km. Ordinary riding, meaning Tour assist, rolling terrain, hybrid tyres, mild weather, brisk pace: 48 km, band 42 to 53 km. Hard riding, meaning Sport or Turbo, steep terrain, knobby tyres, fast pace: 20 km, band 18 to 23 km. The same battery in the cold gives 40 km. On knobby tyres it gives 42 km. On road tyres it gives 52 km. The conditions change the range by a factor of more than 4.
The Brands That Overstate the Most
We cannot name every brand, but we can point to specific bikes that illustrate the widest gaps. The Aventon Ramblas eMTB has the widest gap between claim and estimate in our database. Its estimated range is 20 km. That is a short ride. The claimed range is much higher. The bike is a mountain bike with a 346 Wh battery and knobby tyres. In our formula, knobby tyres add a 1.25 multiplier to consumption. That alone cuts range by 20 percent compared to hybrid tyres. The estimate of 20 km assumes ordinary riding on rolling terrain. On steep terrain, it would be even lower.
Other bikes with wide gaps include the Coswheel GT20 PRO, which has the largest battery in our catalogue at 1920 Wh. Its estimated range is 107 km. That is the longest estimate of any bike we list, but the claim is far higher. The Emoko C94, a cargo bike with a 1680 Wh battery, has an estimate of 109 km. That is the longest estimated range in our catalogue. Yet its claim is also far above that. Wide gaps are common across all types and price points.
The Brands That Come Closest
At the other end, the Hidoes C5 has the closest claim to our estimate. Its estimated range is 27 km. The claim is close to that. The bike has a 374 Wh battery and weighs 23.1 kg. It is a folding bike, and its estimate is low because the battery is small. But the claim is realistic. That is rare.
Other bikes with relatively close claims include the Fiido D3 Pro, the cheapest bike in our catalogue at 399 USD. Its estimate is 28 km. The VIVI C26UL, a city bike at 500 USD, has an estimate of 27 km. The ADO AIR 30 PRO, the most expensive city bike at 3335 USD, has an estimate of 27 km. Closeness does not follow price. It follows how the manufacturer sets the claim.
What the Median Overclaim Means for You
The median overclaim is 50 percent. That means half of all bikes claim at least 50 percent more range than our estimate. For a bike with a claimed range of 97 km, the median claim, our estimate is 47 km. That is the median estimated range. If you plan a 50 km round trip, a bike with a 97 km claim may not make it in ordinary riding. You would need a battery that gives an estimate of at least 50 km, which means a battery around 750 Wh or more, depending on conditions.
| Battery size | Ordinary range estimate | Claimed range needed for that estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 374 Wh | 25 km | 50 km |
| 500 Wh | 33 km | 66 km |
| 720 Wh | 48 km | 96 km |
| 1000 Wh | 66 km | 132 km |
The table shows that to get an ordinary range of 48 km, you need a 720 Wh battery, and the claim will likely be around 96 km. If you see a claim of 100 km, expect an ordinary range near 50 km. That is the pattern.
Why the Gap Is Not Dishonesty
A wide gap between claim and estimate is often called overstating. But it is not a lie. It is a difference in test conditions. Manufacturers use the most favourable conditions they can defend. Our formula uses ordinary conditions. Both are valid. The problem is that the claim does not tell you what conditions it assumes. Our estimate does.
Consider the same 720 Wh battery. In easy riding, it gives 94 km. In ordinary riding, it gives 48 km. In hard riding, it gives 20 km. The same battery can honestly claim 94 km or 20 km. The difference is the rider, the terrain, and the assist level. A manufacturer that claims 94 km is not lying if they tested at Eco on flat ground. But that number is useless for planning a commute with hills.
The widest overclaim in our catalogue is 84 percent. That bike, the Aventon Ramblas, has an estimate of 20 km. The claim is likely around 124 km. That is a huge gap. But the bike is a mountain bike with a small battery. If you ride it on flat pavement in Eco, you might get more than 20 km. But if you ride it on a trail, you will get less. The claim is not a promise. It is a marketing number.
How to Use Range Estimates When Buying
When you compare e-bikes, look at the estimated range, not the claimed range. Our catalogue shows the estimate for each bike. For example, the Heybike Ranger S, which is the median-priced bike at 1299 USD, has a 720 Wh battery and an estimate of 53 km. That is a realistic range for a folding bike with hybrid tyres. The Cyrusher Trident Full Suspension, the most expensive at 5799 USD, has a 1040 Wh battery and an estimate of 58 km. That is low for such a large battery because the bike is heavy, 43.5 kg, and has knobby tyres.
Weight matters. The lightest bike in our catalogue, the Fiido Air Carbon at 13.6 kg, has a 614 Wh battery and an estimate of 46 km. The heaviest, the Hiboy C1 at 56.7 kg, has a 522 Wh battery and an estimate of 36 km. The Hiboy is a folding cargo bike, and its weight cuts range. The Fiido is a city bike, and its light weight helps.
Battery size is not the only factor. The Coswheel R6000 has the most torque in our catalogue, 180 Nm, and a 1800 Wh battery. Its estimate is 99 km. The Riding Time GT53 has the highest payload rating, 250 kg, and a 1123 Wh battery. Its estimate is 70 km. Both are heavy bikes, and their estimates reflect that.
The Range Calculator: Your Next Step
You can get a range estimate for any bike in our catalogue using our range calculator. It uses the same formula we use for the estimates in this article. You choose the assist level, terrain, tyres, temperature, and pace. The calculator also adjusts for your weight. It gives you a range band, not a single number. That band is what you should use for planning.
For example, if you are considering a bike with a 720 Wh battery, the calculator will show you the three scenarios: easy 94 km, ordinary 48 km, hard 20 km. You can then decide if that battery is big enough for your commute. If you ride 20 km each way, you need an ordinary range of at least 40 km. A 720 Wh battery gives you 48 km, so it works, but only just. A 500 Wh battery gives you 33 km, which is not enough. You would need to charge at work or ride in Eco.
Beyond Range: Other Specs That Matter
Range is not the only spec that gets overstated. Torque and payload ratings are also worth scrutiny. In our catalogue, 433 bikes state a torque figure, and 493 state a payload rating. The highest torque is 180 Nm on the Coswheel R6000. The highest payload is 250 kg on the Riding Time GT53. These numbers are useful, but they are also test conditions. A payload of 250 kg may include the bike itself. Check the fine print.
Battery life is another area. Our formula assumes a battery lasts 800 full cycles. For a median 720 Wh battery, that is 38400 km before the pack reaches 80 percent capacity. After that, you may want a replacement. A replacement pack costs 1.2 EUR per Wh. For a 720 Wh pack, that is 864 EUR. That is more than many bikes cost. Consider that when you buy a cheap bike with a small battery.
What to Do Next
When you shop, ignore the claimed range. Use our estimate. Filter the catalogue by your needs, then compare estimates. If you need a bike for a 20 km commute, look for an estimate of at least 30 km to have a margin. If you ride in cold weather, add 20 percent. If you ride on knobby tyres, add 25 percent. If you are heavy, add 1 percent per 5 kg over 80 kg.
You can also use the savings calculator to see how much you save by riding instead of driving. Riding 50 km a week saves 486 EUR a year. Riding 100 km a week saves 1072 EUR. Riding 200 km a week saves 2245 EUR. Those savings can pay for a bike in months. A 1203 EUR bike pays back in 30 months at 50 km a week, 13 months at 100 km, and 6 months at 200 km.
Finally, read our methodology to understand every formula we use. It is all open. You can check our work. Then make your decision with clear eyes.
Frequently asked questions
Why do e-bike range claims differ so much from real-world estimates?
Manufacturers test in ideal conditions: flat ground, low assist, light rider, warm weather. Our estimates use ordinary riding conditions: rolling terrain, hybrid tyres, mild weather, a brisk pace. That is why the median overclaim is 50 percent.
Which brand overstates range the most?
Among the bikes we name, the Aventon Ramblas eMTB has the widest gap between its claim and our estimate. Its estimate is 20 km, and the claim is much higher. But a wide gap is not a sign of dishonesty, it reflects the test conditions.
Which brand comes closest to its claimed range?
The Hidoes C5 has the closest claim to our estimate. Its estimate is 27 km, and the claim is close to that. Still, the median overclaim across all bikes is 50 percent, so most claims are far from ordinary riding.
How do I get a realistic range estimate for a specific bike?
Use our range calculator. It takes battery size, assist level, terrain, tyres, temperature, pace, and rider weight. It shows a range band, not a single number, because conditions vary.
Does a higher price mean a more accurate range claim?
No. Price does not correlate with claim accuracy. The most expensive bike in our catalogue, the Cyrusher Trident Full Suspension at 5799 USD, has an estimated range of 58 km. The cheapest, the Fiido D3 Pro at 399 USD, has an estimate of 28 km. Both claims are far from estimates.
