Introduction to the Ebike Electrical System

There are a few critical components (battery, controller, motor) and a number of accessory components (displays, throttles, PAS sensors) that make up an ebike. This article explains the role of each component in the KG4.

The Battery

• The battery is the energy source that powers an electric bicycle and is typically the most expensive part of an ebike system.
• The size or capacity of a battery can be expressed in amp-hours (Ah) or watt-hours (Wh), where the watt-hours is just the amp-hours multiplied by the voltage. It is the watt-hours of a battery that determines the total energy stored inside the pack and hence how much range it will deliver.

The Motor

• The electric motor turns electrical energy from the battery into mechanical power to move the bike.

Controller

• The motor controller is a component that is unfamiliar to many people, but it is an essential piece of any ebike hardware since you can’t directly connect a brushless motor to a battery pack. The motor controller serves two critical functions
• It converts the DC voltage of the battery pack into 3 phase alternating current for the motor windings without which the motor could not spin, and
• It can continuously adjust the voltage going to the motor, from 0V up to the full battery pack voltage, in response to the user’s throttle signal, pedal sensors, and various current limits.

Throttle

• A throttle is the most basic and familiar way of allowing the rider to regulate the amount of power they get from the motor by pressing a throttle lever or twisting a grip that is mounted on the handlebar. A throttle gives the rider full control of the amount of power coming from the electric motor at any given time, regardless of how hard they are pedaling. In many jurisdictions, the speed that can be achieved using the throttle alone is limited.

Speed Sensors

• While a throttle lets you control the motor power with your hands, a PAS sensor allows the ebike speed to be controlled from your pedaling. Cadence PAS sensors are readily installed on an existing crankset and send signals to the ebike whenever you are spinning the pedals.

Display

• The display allows you to see what is going on with your ebike in terms of speed, distance traveled, remaining battery power etc.

Charger

• One of the most crucial and essential components of an ebike, the charger is a medium that helps provide power for the proper functioning of an ebike. Choosing the correct charger is crucial for your electric bike functionality as:
• It helps protect your battery from overcharging while charging.
• It helps increase the battery life.
• It is small and light enough to be easily brought as an instant charging solution.

Lights

• The lights are designed specifically for electric bicycles. It is usually brighter and more powerful than a traditional bike light. The light draws power from the ebike’s battery, so you don’t have to replace batteries regularly.
• Ebike lights come in various shapes and sizes but usually feature high-intensity LEDs with focused light beams.
• Ebike lights are also durable and weather-resistant, so they can withstand the rigors of daily use.