Enter the voltage and amp hours printed on your battery, then pick the riding style that sounds most like you. The estimator turns that into watt-hours and gives a range window rather than one optimistic number.

How This Estimator Works

  • Battery capacity in watt-hours = volts x amp hours. A 48 V, 14 Ah pack holds 672 Wh.
  • Usable energy is set at about 90% of that, since battery management systems stop before the cells are fully drained.
  • Range = usable watt-hours / watt-hours used per mile. The result is shown as a window from 20% below to 10% above the midpoint.

The riding style presets of 10, 15, 20 and 28 Wh per mile are rough averages for a typical adult on a hub or mid-drive commuter. If your display or app reports your own consumption, enter it in the custom field for a much better estimate.

What Cuts Range the Most

  • Higher assist levels and throttle use, which shift work from your legs to the battery.
  • Hills, headwinds and stop and go traffic.
  • Cold weather, which lowers the energy a lithium battery can deliver.
  • Heavier riders or cargo, low tire pressure and knobby tires.
  • Battery age. Most packs hold noticeably less after several hundred full charge cycles.

Limitations

Manufacturer range claims are usually measured at low assist on flat ground, so they often sit at the top of this window or above it. Treat the lower number as the one to plan a commute around.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find voltage and amp hours?

They are printed on the battery label or in the spec sheet. Some batteries list watt-hours directly, in which case divide the watt-hours by the voltage to get amp hours.

Why is my real range lower than the box says?

Box figures are often measured at the lowest assist level in ideal conditions. Higher assist, hills, cold and stops all cut range.

Will a bigger battery double my range?

Close to it, if everything else stays the same. Range scales with watt-hours, though a heavier battery adds a little weight to carry.

Is it bad to run the battery to empty?

Most makers advise against regularly draining a lithium pack fully. Recharging from around 20 to 30% and storing it half charged helps it last longer.