The figures come from the range model in our e-bike range calculator: it uses physics to work out the watts the bike needs on the flat, uphill and downhill, splits those watts between your legs and the motor according to the assist mode, and divides the battery’s usable energy by what each mile takes. Every case uses the same assumptions, listed below; in the calculator you can swap them for your own.
Range in tour mode
The middle assist level and the one most people use. In parentheses, the reasonable spread in miles (−20 % / +15 %), then the range in kilometers.
| Battery | Flat | Rolling hills | Mountains |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 Wh | 57 mi (46-66) · 92 km | 44 mi (35-51) · 71 km | 31 mi (25-36) · 50 km |
| 500 Wh | 72 mi (57-82) · 115 km | 55 mi (44-64) · 89 km | 39 mi (31-45) · 63 km |
| 545 Wh | 78 mi (63-90) · 126 km | 60 mi (48-69) · 97 km | 43 mi (34-49) · 69 km |
| 625 Wh | 90 mi (72-103) · 144 km | 69 mi (55-79) · 111 km | 49 mi (39-56) · 79 km |
| 750 Wh | 108 mi (86-124) · 173 km | 83 mi (66-95) · 133 km | 59 mi (47-67) · 94 km |
| 800 Wh | 115 mi (92-132) · 185 km | 88 mi (71-102) · 142 km | 63 mi (50-72) · 101 km |
Range by assist mode: flat terrain
| Battery | Eco | Tour | Sport | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 Wh | 88 mi (142 km) | 57 mi (92 km) | 47 mi (76 km) | 42 mi (68 km) |
| 500 Wh | 111 mi (178 km) | 72 mi (115 km) | 59 mi (95 km) | 53 mi (85 km) |
| 545 Wh | 121 mi (194 km) | 78 mi (126 km) | 64 mi (103 km) | 57 mi (92 km) |
| 625 Wh | 138 mi (222 km) | 90 mi (144 km) | 74 mi (119 km) | 66 mi (106 km) |
| 750 Wh | 166 mi (267 km) | 108 mi (173 km) | 88 mi (142 km) | 79 mi (127 km) |
| 800 Wh | 177 mi (285 km) | 115 mi (185 km) | 94 mi (152 km) | 84 mi (135 km) |
Range by assist mode: rolling hills
| Battery | Eco | Tour | Sport | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 Wh | 69 mi (111 km) | 44 mi (71 km) | 35 mi (56 km) | 31 mi (49 km) |
| 500 Wh | 86 mi (139 km) | 55 mi (89 km) | 43 mi (70 km) | 38 mi (61 km) |
| 545 Wh | 94 mi (151 km) | 60 mi (97 km) | 47 mi (76 km) | 42 mi (67 km) |
| 625 Wh | 108 mi (174 km) | 69 mi (111 km) | 54 mi (87 km) | 48 mi (77 km) |
| 750 Wh | 129 mi (208 km) | 83 mi (133 km) | 65 mi (105 km) | 57 mi (92 km) |
| 800 Wh | 138 mi (222 km) | 88 mi (142 km) | 69 mi (112 km) | 61 mi (98 km) |
Range by assist mode: mountains
| Battery | Eco | Tour | Sport | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 Wh | 48 mi (77 km) | 31 mi (50 km) | 25 mi (40 km) | 21 mi (34 km) |
| 500 Wh | 60 mi (97 km) | 39 mi (63 km) | 31 mi (50 km) | 27 mi (43 km) |
| 545 Wh | 66 mi (106 km) | 43 mi (69 km) | 34 mi (55 km) | 29 mi (47 km) |
| 625 Wh | 75 mi (121 km) | 49 mi (79 km) | 39 mi (63 km) | 33 mi (54 km) |
| 750 Wh | 90 mi (145 km) | 59 mi (94 km) | 47 mi (75 km) | 40 mi (64 km) |
| 800 Wh | 96 mi (155 km) | 63 mi (101 km) | 50 mi (80 km) | 43 mi (69 km) |
Energy use per mile
| Mode | Flat | Rolling hills | Mountains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco | 4.0 Wh/mi (2.5 Wh/km) | 5.1 Wh/mi (3.2 Wh/km) | 7.4 Wh/mi (4.6 Wh/km) |
| Tour | 6.2 Wh/mi (3.8 Wh/km) | 8.0 Wh/mi (5.0 Wh/km) | 11.4 Wh/mi (7.1 Wh/km) |
| Sport | 7.5 Wh/mi (4.7 Wh/km) | 10.2 Wh/mi (6.4 Wh/km) | 14.2 Wh/mi (8.8 Wh/km) |
| Turbo | 8.4 Wh/mi (5.2 Wh/km) | 11.6 Wh/mi (7.2 Wh/km) | 16.7 Wh/mi (10.3 Wh/km) |
Assumptions behind the numbers
- Total weight of 223 lb (101 kg): a 165 lb (75 kg) rider, a 53 lb (24 kg) bike and 4.4 lb (2 kg) of cargo.
- Cruising speed of 12.4 mph (20 km/h), no wind and 64 °F (18 °C), with city tires and an upright riding position.
- You put out 100 W with your legs. The motor adds 55 % of your effort in eco, 120 % in tour, 200 % in sport and 300 % in turbo (mid-range values for Bosch motors), up to a maximum of 450 W. It stops assisting at 15.5 mph (25 km/h), the European limit; Class 1 and 2 e-bikes in the US assist up to 20 mph, but at this cruising speed the numbers don’t change.
- Terrain: flat, 10 ft of climbing per mile (2 m per km); rolling, 63 ft per mile (12 m per km) with 4 % climbs; mountains, 132 ft per mile (25 m per km) with 6 % climbs.
- 90 % of the battery is usable, the motor is 78 % efficient and we add 10 % for starts and stops.
How to read the chart
- Assist mode matters more than battery size. Dropping from tour to eco gets you more miles than going from a 500 to a 750 Wh battery.
- Cold cuts range: at 32 °F (0 °C) a battery delivers 80-85 % of its capacity. A 500 Wh battery on rolling terrain in tour mode drops from 55 to 45 miles.
- In eco and on climbs you go slower, because the motor helps less: your range goes up, but so do your hours in the saddle.
- If you weigh more, carry panniers or face a headwind, plan on the low end of the spread. For your exact case, use the calculator.
To choose a battery size before you buy, our e-bike range guide explains what changes it, and the e-bike battery guide covers how to make it last. What it costs to charge is in the e-bike cost per mile chart.
Frequently asked questions
How many miles will a 500Wh e-bike battery last?
In tour mode, about 72 miles on the flat, 55 miles on rolling terrain and 39 miles in the mountains, for a 165 lb rider at 12.4 mph. In eco it stretches to 111 miles on the flat; in turbo in the mountains it drops to 27 miles.
How far does a 625Wh battery go in the mountains?
About 49 miles (79 km) in tour mode, 75 miles in eco and 33 miles in turbo, with 132 ft of climbing per mile. In cold weather or with a heavy load, expect about 20 % less.
How many Wh per mile does an e-bike use?
Between 4 and 17 Wh per mile depending on mode and terrain: about 6.2 Wh/mi (3.8 Wh/km) on the flat in tour mode, 8 Wh/mi on rolling terrain and 11.4 Wh/mi in the mountains.