What Does Hybrid Mean on an Electric Bike?
What Does Hybrid Mean on an Electric Bike?
Most people are familiar with hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius. On an electric car you have both a petrol and an electric motor and the car will switch between the two to save fuel. Electric hybrid bikes don’t really work that way. In fact they are called ‘hybrid’ bikes for a different reason. The ‘hybrid’ and ‘electric’ bit are two separate things on bikes. So what does hybrid mean on an electric bike?
A hybrid bike
With bikes ‘hybrid’ is a general style of bike. The same as calling a car a hatchback or an SUV. They are called hybrids because they combine elements of a road race bike, and elements of a mountain bike. The result is a reasonably fast bike that you can use on a variety of surfaces. This makes hybrid bikes ideal for commuting and general fitness riding. The original hybrid bikes were created as non-electric bikes.
An electric bike
There are now different types of electric bikes on the market. You get electric mountain bikes, electric road bikes and, of course, electric hybrid bikes. With an electric hybrid you will be getting a bike that can be used on a variety of surfaces and which is reasonably fast.
Do you have to pedal?
To be legal in the UK all electric bikes have to comply with the EPAC rules. As well as limiting the top speed of electric bikes this means that you have to pedal for the electric motor to work. If you stop pedalling the motor will cut out. Of course you can ride an electric bike with the motor turned completely off. In this case you just pedal it as normal, but most people only do this if they have run out of power or are very low. Electric bikes are heavy and pedalling them with the motor turned off takes quite a bit of effort.
Most electric bikes are designed to be ridden with the motor constantly turned on and you pedalling at the same time. However, you can usually adjust the mode so that the electric motor gives you more, or less, help depending on how fit you are feeling.
