Electric bikes typically come with a 48V or 52V battery, so what is the difference?
Let’s start!
First of all, the most common and popular voltage for high-end e-bikes and ebike kits is 48V or 52V. This is different then most lower-cost ebikes and ebike kits which run off 36V. This can also differ by sales region since in the United States 48V & 52V is the standard while in Europe 36V is the standard. Lower voltage batteries are cheaper but the main difference between lower and higher voltage batteries are that the higher the voltage the better the power and performance!
Note: Our Mid Drive motors are compatible with with both 48V or 52V batteries however our Front hub motors only work with 48V batteries.
Understanding how batteries work can help you choose the best battery! Which is why if you haven't checked out our Battery Basics 101, we recommend clicking the button below to get your Battery Basics down!
Why would you choose a 52V battery over a 48V battery?
More range - 52V batteries when compared against 48V batteries with the same rated Ah will have more range as they have a larger battery capacity (Watt-hours rating).
More Power - 52V batteries can provide more power to a motor when the motor needs it. 52V batteries also provide a better voltage range for the motor to operate in when compared with 48V battery.
More Efficient - 52V Batteries can allow your motor to run at a lower current (amp) draw when operating at the same conditions when compared to a 48V battery. This can help reduce the amount of heat being built up in the motor and reduce overheating and premature failure
More Versatile - 52V batteries will provide better performance than a 48V battery when used in cold weather
Why you may not need 52V battery and a 48V battery maybe enough?
48V may already provide you more than enough range for your riding needs
You are not needing any additional power for offroading or climbing steep hills and you are just looking to do city riding and commuting.
You are not planning to ride during the Winter months in lower temperatures or in the snow.
The key…
The 52V is more effective, meaning better performance.
The reason is that a 52V e-bike battery provides greater efficiency using fewer amps generating the same or better power for your bike.
A 52V e-bike battery provides a faster speed to the motor than a 48V.
One of the most important differences is related to the range, a 52V e-bike battery offers a range wider than a 48V.
A 52V battery fresh off the charger will produce almost 59 V while a 48V battery will produce around 54.5V.
Putting Together Battery Voltage and Motor Operation
Keep in mind that BBS02 and BBSHD Mid Drive motor controllers can take a range of voltages from 40V to 59V, so clearly these units perform better at the higher end of the range however if the voltage drops so will the power.
As a battery drains and the voltage drops a rider will experience that they are no longer be getting the same power from the motor which will also be noticeable with the throttle lag. This difference in power will be more noticeable with a 48V battery than with a 52V battery.
Which is the best battery to get?
Unfortunately, it is not that easy as ebike battery packs are in no way a one size fits all item which is why we offer so many different battery options! In order to see the estimated range based on the motor and battery pack that you are looking at we recommend clicking the button below to learn more about our range estimates!
