Best Electric Bikes 2020: A Guide to Buying an Electric Bike in New Zealand
Our guide explains everything you need to know to buy the right electric bike at the best price
Updated 22 April 2020
Electric bikes are quickly growing in popularity around New Zealand. What started as a means of commuting in Auckland and Wellington as spread nationwide.
With their daily commutes on city streets to scenic countryside rides and off-road adventures, people all over New Zealand are discovering the benefits of e-bikes and why they’re such a welcome method of transportation, recreational activity and overall alternative to vehicles. Today, you can easily see e-bikes in Stewart Island and the Marlborough Sounds as you would in downtown Auckland.
This guide is designed to explain all about electric bikes and help you make an informed e-bike purchase in New Zealand, while aligning your choice to match your unique needs and lifestyle. We also feature four of the best electric bikes in New Zealand, based on variable budgets and requirements.
Our Electric Bike guide covers:
With their daily commutes on city streets to scenic countryside rides and off-road adventures, people all over New Zealand are discovering the benefits of e-bikes and why they’re such a welcome method of transportation, recreational activity and overall alternative to vehicles. Today, you can easily see e-bikes in Stewart Island and the Marlborough Sounds as you would in downtown Auckland.
This guide is designed to explain all about electric bikes and help you make an informed e-bike purchase in New Zealand, while aligning your choice to match your unique needs and lifestyle. We also feature four of the best electric bikes in New Zealand, based on variable budgets and requirements.
Our Electric Bike guide covers:
What is an electric bike, and what kind of types are available?
An electric bike is a power-assisted bicycle with an electric motor and built-in battery pack that can be charged to give you a power boost anytime you want it. You can ride your e-bike just like a normal bicycle or charge it up and take advantage of its power-assisted features to get further with less energy, surmount hills with ease, or simply have more incentive to go for a bike ride at your leisure. Electric bikes generally have the following features:
To give you a better understanding of how e-bikes work, and which one is best for you, we outline their features in greater detail in the section below.
- Variable speed which controls the power output of the motor.
- Multiple sensor options (depending on the model) which regulate how much assisted power you get. The power depends on how hard or how fast you are pushing the pedals.
To give you a better understanding of how e-bikes work, and which one is best for you, we outline their features in greater detail in the section below.
Types of Electric Bike
When choosing an electric bicycle, you’ll find that every model is either comes with a mid-drive motor or a hub-drive motor. Mid-drive motors and hub-drive motors are two different motor types that both offer unique advantages depending on how you ride your bicycle and where and when you want your power-assisted features to come into play.
Mid-drive motors explained
Hub-drive motors
When choosing an electric bicycle, you’ll find that every model is either comes with a mid-drive motor or a hub-drive motor. Mid-drive motors and hub-drive motors are two different motor types that both offer unique advantages depending on how you ride your bicycle and where and when you want your power-assisted features to come into play.
Mid-drive motors explained
- The motor is built into the crank compartment between the pedals
- It's designed to offer an extra measure of torque directly into the gears of your bicycle, minimising energy loss and maximising power.
- The motor's positioning makes for more efficient RPM and versatile riding with a balanced feel. It also makes it easier to climb steep hills and reach faster speeds.
- Mid-drive motors are relatively smaller and lighter and generally better with uphill and off-road efficiency and power.
- It's easier to change a tire.
Hub-drive motors
- The motor is attached to the centre of the rear or front wheel (typically the rear wheel).
- The design and placement make the motor ideal for long-distance commuting on generally flat terrain
- Generally, hub-drive e-bikes are more affordable than mid-drive bikes.
- Hub-drive motors are independent drive system that require little-to-no maintenance. They experience less wear-and-tear on other bike mechanisms such as the chain and shifters.
- Hub-drive motors run independently of a bike chain — you can break your chain and still ride home on electric power, and vice versa
​What are the key features of electric bikes?
Electric bikes come with various features that make them an attractive choice of transportation and recreation for riders of all ages and lifestyles. To explain what's available and make your buying process more informed, we have included a list of features and what they mean. The aim is to give you a better idea of how an electric bike works and what benefits they offer.
Throttle mode
Many electric bikes come with a throttle mode feature. This is a button or twist grip which gives you an instant electric-powered boost the moment you activate it. Throttle mode is used to propel your bike forward without pedalling. Generally:
- Many e-bike throttles have an adjustable dial letting you control the power
- The throttle is most often using for boosting when going up uphill and over rough terrain
- But, every throttle use expends the battery capacity
- Energy efficiency is dependent on motor type
Pedal assist (Pedelec)
This feature provides electric-powered assistance while pedalling. The Pedelec feature gives riders a ‘smart bike’ feel as it makes pedalling more efficient and rewarding. With the pedal assist mode, riders can travel further and conquer obstacles such as hills and rough terrain with less difficulty and strain. Pedelic offers a greater electric bike range and efficiency, and makes riding enjoyable. Many e-bikes offer variable levels of pedal assistance such as:
- Low pedal assistance: this mode will leave you relying more on your physical strength and endurance to pedal while offering minimal electric assistance. This is an ideal setting for a more natural biking experience, a better workout, or to conserve battery while still receiving some power output.
- Medium pedal assistance: this mode strikes a balance between power assistance and physical exertion. You’ll feel like there’s a tailwind blowing behind you but will still need to pedal if you want to keep moving.
- Maximum pedal assistance: With this setting enabled, your bike will be delivering a maximum assistance boost and will make it relatively easy to pedal forward to your destination. This will be the highest available pedal assistance setting next to full-throttle mode.
Electric bike sensors
Electric bikes rely on specialised sensors to determine how much power assistance you’ll need during pedalling and will adjust electric output based on how much power you’re using or how fast your pedals are spinning. Electric bikes are either equipped with a torque sensor, a cadence sensor, or both.
Torque sensor
- Measures how much power you are using to push your pedals.
- Allows for electric power assist fluctuation based on how much physical power you are exerting.
- Emulates pedalling power very well and gives your bike a ‘smart’ feel.
- Relies on more advanced and sensitive equipment, so it is typically more expensive than other sensor types.
- Ideal for bike riding that involves a lot of pedalling or more demanding exertion as in the case of uphill and off-road riding.
Cadence sensor
- Applies pedal assistance based on how quickly you turn your pedals.
- Can be adjusted according to pedal assist level (low, medium, high, etc.).
- Works well with a throttle mode combination.
- Cadence sensors are favoured for commuting across mostly flat terrain and situations where less pedalling demand is preferred (i.e. to work, school, and general commuting)
​How much does an electric bike cost in New Zealand?
Just like any product, electric bike prices vary depending on your preferences and the selection of features which you want to have. Right now:
- A typical entry-point for a basic electric bike is around $2,000.
- High-end electric bikes can cost as much as $10,000 or more.
- While the importance of affordability should be a priority, your choice of electric bicycle should also be influenced by its role in your life and whether it’s an investment that will simply pay for itself in the long run.
What type of electric bike should I choose?
Your choice of electric bike should reflect your lifestyle and expectations in terms of performance and versatility. What model you select will most likely be driven by your day-to-day needs and budget.
Option one: Electric bike with hub-drive motor
- If the main purpose of your electric bicycle is for daily commute in your town or city, where roads are generally flat and you’re simply trying to get to-and-fro with minimal effort and as quickly as possible, a hub-drive e-bike is probably most suitable.
- A hub-drive motor e-bike with a cadence sensor should meet your everyday needs, and the right model can be more affordable than you think.
Option Two: Electric bike with mid-drive motor
- If your bicycle plays a more recreational role in your life, where mountain biking, town-to-town exploring and mobile workouts are your two-wheeled priorities alongside daily commuting, then a mid-drive motor with a torque sensor will allow you to get the absolute most out of your bicycle journeys. It will also help you to get plenty of exercise without getting totally burned out (or simply disengage all of your electric features and sweat away).
- Many e-bikes also come with both torque and cadence sensors (these bikes typically tend to be on the higher-end) and throttle mode can be included with any type of motor or sensor.
How far does an e-bike go on a single charge?
The answer depends on which type of e-bike you have and how you decide to utilise your power assist features. Some factors that will determine your battery’s power output include:
Generally, riders can expect their electric bicycle to cover roughly 30km or so on full assist mode or with extensive use of throttling to as much as over 100km on flat terrain and lower assistance levels on a single charge.
- Pedal assist settings
- How much you use the throttle mode
- Road surface or terrain
- Tyre pressure
- Wind resistance
- Bike model
Generally, riders can expect their electric bicycle to cover roughly 30km or so on full assist mode or with extensive use of throttling to as much as over 100km on flat terrain and lower assistance levels on a single charge.
Electric bike maintenance and servicing
- When buying an e-bike in New Zealand, one of the most important things you’ll need to consider is its long-term reliability.
- Specifically, does the e-bike come with an extended warranty? Does the supplier have available replacement parts here in New Zealand? If the answer to both of these questions is no, it may be best to consider a different retailer and e-bike brand that can offer a more reassuring service platform for your future needs.
- An electric bike is built with a lot of unique parts which will eventually require service as time goes by. Things such as the motor and battery should only be replaced with manufacturer’s parts, and even basic components may best be replaced with original parts to ensure smooth operation and performance.
We recommend calling-in or visiting the retailer of choice to discuss product warranty and available replacement parts. Fortunately, the ongoing electric bike boom in New Zealand has prompted many e-bike retailers and service providers to welcome e-bikes as a new bike standard and have expanded their repair bays and parts orders to accommodate a growing demand for electric bicycle repairs.
​Four of the Best Electric Bikes Available in New Zealand Right Now
Our list below, which is in no particular order, covers electric bikes available New Zealand-wide. We have selected these based on average consumer reviews collected from consumer.org.nz as well as various vendor websites and social media platforms both in New Zealand and, if available, overseas.
No e-bike supplier or brand has paid to appear on this list, and MoneyHub.co.nz has no relationship with any e-bike supplier or brand below.
No e-bike supplier or brand has paid to appear on this list, and MoneyHub.co.nz has no relationship with any e-bike supplier or brand below.
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