From the Peak District to the Lakes, some of the UK’s most picturesque areas of natural beauty are made famous by their hills. Whether you’re ready to explore the mountains of Snowdonia, or simply need a sturdy companion for a hilly daily commute, choosing the right e-bike for hills will help you on your way.
How to Find the Right E-bike for Hills
What Electric Bike Components are Most Important for Hills?
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Motor. Your electric bike’s motor provides its power, so a high quality one is vital when choosing an e-bike for hills. Brushless DC motors are a great option, providing optimum efficiency and smooth operation.
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Battery. Climbing hills requires more power assistance, and this naturally means an e-bike’s battery will drain faster on hilly routes. Look for an electric bike with a good quality, powerful battery with a long range. For a full guide to e-bike batteries, read our blog post here.
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Brakes. If you climb a hill on your e-bike, you’ll usually have to come back down. Make sure the e-bike has brakes capable of safely handling descents. Hydraulic disc brakes typically offer superior levels of braking power and control.
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Suspension. Absorbing bumps and improving stability, a quality e-bike suspension is essential for a comfortable ride. For the smoothest ride possible on very hilly or challenging terrain, opt for a full suspension electric bike.
What Type of E-bike is Best for Hills?
Electric bikes typically fall into one of two categories: pedal assist or throttle only.
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Pedal assist electric bikes are more like pushbikes; while the motor offers assistance, you need to pedal to benefit from it. Essentially, riding a pedal assist e-bike is like riding a traditional bike, but with greater ease.
- Throttle only electric bikes have motors that can be powered by the throttle alone. With these e-bikes, you don’t need to pedal to benefit from motor assistance.
Both types of electric bike provide great assistance for getting up hills, but if you want extra juice to navigate particularly tough or hilly off-road trails, it might be worth opting for a throttle only e-bike. Alternatively, if you’d like a road legal electric bike that can also be used for off-road hills, a model with a dis-connectable throttle like the E-Movement Aries can offer the best of both worlds (read more on this below!)
3 Great Electric Bikes for Hills
Rocket X Sport Utility. The Rocket collection’s signature model features nine levels of power assistance, a powerful 48V lithium battery, and a brushless DC motor that provides extra control in hilly areas. At 750W, this electric bike is not road legal in the UK, but it packs a perfect punch for challenging off-road trails.
Best for: Off-road Challenges
E-Movement Aries. With its efficient and powerful 48V 250W/500W brushless motor, sturdy hydraulic disc brakes, and 14Ah integrated battery, the E-Movement Aries is a wonderful all-rounder. What’s more, this innovative e-bike model comes with a digitally dis-connectable throttle. This means that (with the 250W model) you can use the throttle for off-road adventures, then disable it for road legal day to day commuting.
Best for: All-round Goodness
ENGWE ENGINE X. This folding electric bike features a 48V 12Ah battery capable of powering you for up to 120km, a 250W brushless motor with 55N.m of torque, and a Shimano seven speed gear shifter for effortless control on various levels of incline. Lightweight, road legal, and easy to transport, the ENGWE ENGINE X is a great choice for commuting in hillier areas and carrying on public transport.
Best for: Convenient Commuting
Preparing for a Route With Hills: 5 Useful Tips and Tricks
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Check your e-bike’s battery and key components. You should do this before every ride, but it’s especially important when you need to navigate inclines and declines. Check key components including the tyres, brakes, chain, motor, battery, and lights to make sure they’re functioning correctly.
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Find the right gear for a consistent uphill pace. Practice finding a gear that allows you to maintain a steady pace while riding uphill.
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Anticipate the terrain when possible. If you see a steep hill up ahead, transfer to lower tools earlier. Not only will this prepare your legs for the extra effort, but it’ll also guarantee you’re within the premier tools before the incline hits.
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Conserve battery where possible. Since riding uphill can drain an e-bike battery faster, make sure it’s fully charged before your ride. You can also take measures to conserve the battery enroute, like maintaining a consistent pace and using the throttle conservatively (if your e-bike has one).
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Plan ahead. Keeping in mind that your battery might drain a little faster on a trail with more challenging climbs, find out where you can charge your e-bike battery enroute for longer journeys. Pubs and cafes may allow you to charge up if you use their service (always ask permission). Handy new electric bike charging stations are starting to pop up along the National Cycle Network, too.
Find an Electric Bike for Hills With E-bikes Express
E-Bikes Express stocks a wide range of mountain, cargo, foldable, and step through electric bikes, and each e-bike model boasts unique benefits, features, and ideal uses. Finding the right electric bike for hills in your area (or on your favourite trail) is a decision worth research. For expert advice, give us a call today; we’ll help you make a well informed and budget friendly decision.
