As more and more men and women discover the joys and unique fun of electric bikes, questions often arise as to how an electric bike is similar to and different from a traditional bike. From questions about batteries and speed to questions about bike safety and maintenance, understanding what makes e-bikes special is a part of the learning curve and a huge part of enjoying an e-bike and using it wisely. A common question asked is, “do electric bikes have multiple gears?” Some do, and some do not; let’s look into why this is and check out how gears work on an e-bike. 

What are Bicycle Gears?

To start out, let’s look at gears on a traditional bike and how they function. Gears are a part of the drive train of the bicycle, the system that connects the pedals, chains, and wheels together to move the traditional bike forward. 

A set of sprockets on the rear wheel, called the cassette, works with the rear derailleur to change gears. These sprockets are carefully layered on top of one another in tiers and bear some resemblance to the gears found within a clock. The chain, fed through the rear derailleur, will move into a smaller or larger sprocket to increase or decrease chain tension as gears are manually shifted. 

This shifting of gears will give the rider greater control over how the bike handles and how fast it can go. Lower gears are best for moving uphill as you have more chain length to work with as you pedal, while higher gears are best for road conditions in which less effort is needed from the biker, e.g. flat and non-challenging terrains. 

Do E-Bikes Need Gears?

While gears are useful in traditional bikes for controlling speed and pedal power efficiency manually, don’t electric bikes rely on a battery and motor to accomplish this? If so, what’s the need for an e-bike to have gears?

While the e-bike does rely on electrical power to assist the rider with increasing speed, there are some good reasons to go for an e-bike with a gear system. While the e-bike is assisted by a motor, it is not as independent as a moped or a motorcycle. The rider still needs to use foot power to get the bike going, and as your motor is dependent on a battery pack, the best way to maintain a good battery life when you ride is to toggle between pedaling and throttle. 

The gears on an e-bike, therefore, give the rider more control just as they would on a traditional bike. They allow the rider to save energy while pedaling, scale different kinds of terrain with greater ease and less fatigue, and can be life-savers uphill. While you *can* ascend hills on throttle alone, this is not recommended, as it can drain the battery very quickly and strains your motor beyond what it may be designed to handle. A better option is to use a combination of pedaling in low gear and some assistance from your motor. This way, you have plenty of chain length to work with, can get more energy and wheel rotation out of every pedal, and can get some help from the motor, too. 

What Kind of Gear Systems Do E-Bikes Have?

Some e-bikes, as it turns out, do not actually have multiple gears. These are very simple bikes, with pedal assist via a small battery-powered motor, a single gear, and that is it. Speed is controlled through pedaling and throttle alone. While this may seem like all that one could need, the difficulties posed by terrain make gears in an e-bike a real asset, as we’ll see later.

E-bikes with no gears are best for very short rides on very flat terrain that pose few challenges and require little help from the motor. If you’re quite strong and fit, don’t have as great a need for motorized assistance, and are looking for a simpler and less cost-heavy ride, a single-gear e-bike may be a good option for you. However, many riders enjoy the greater control over the ride and assistance provided by being able to shift up and down. 

It is more common to see e-bikes with multiple gears, just as you would on a mountain bike, from seven to eleven on average. These gears are often housed within a gear hub, a protective housing that protects the gear system from damage. Shifting gears with a gear hub-style framework is often easier for beginner and intermediate riders and can be done whether or not one is actively pedaling. 

A more traditional, racier setup of external derailleur systems is also available, but these often require more expertise and skill to shift in successfully, as well as higher maintenance on the exposed cassette. They do, however, allow for a greater toque and are especially favored by experienced e-bike riders who enjoy tougher trails, competitive e-biking, and mountain e-biking. 

How To Successfully Shift on an E-bike?

Shifting gears on an e-bike is done for very much the same reasons and in the same way as on a traditional bike. Shifting is controlled through a mechanism on or near the handlebars, and either allows the rider to pedal less strenuously on an incline (lower gears) or allows the rider to pedal will less wasted energy when the terrain is flatter (higher gears). 

Successfully shifting on an e-bike requires an understanding of the terrain you are facing and how much energy output you need to complete the task. Anticipating terrain and adjusting your gear setting will help you maximize battery life, reduce fatigue yourself, and pedal more efficiently over the course of your travels. Here’s when to use each gear:

• Low Gear: Use the low gear for climbing, being sure to switch into a lower gear as you approach your hill. This will allow you to maximize energy output and get the most out of your bike. 
• Middle Gears: Use these gears on relatively flat or slightly variant terrain. You’ll get a medium amount of output, perfect for level yet not completely flat conditions, which may require a bit of extra output from you (but are not as intense as hills).
• High Gear: Use your highest gears for very low-effort situations, such as cruising down inclines or completely flat surfaces. This will prevent you from over-pedaling and help you conserve energy when you need it more. 

Conclusion 

While it may not seem as though e-bikes need gears at first glance, the benefits of using them make the uniquely electric experience of the e-bike all that more effective, long-lasting, and enjoyable, too. And will all the types of e-bikes being produced today, you will indeed find the best e-bikes fit you. With the proper uses of gear shifting and throttle, as well as battery and motor care, your e-bike can work at its best and keep working for you through any terrain. 

About the author:

Trevor James is the founder of Electric Bike Paradise, the #1 online retailer of electric bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, electric golf caddies, solar kits, and trolling motors. Trevor has been selling bicycles, electric bikes, and electric scooters online since 2010 and eventually established Electric Bike Paradise in late 2013 when he happened to meet a car enthusiast that introduced him to electric bikes. Trevor spent time searching for electric bikes online but couldn’t find a website that offered a wide selection of electric bikes, scooters, and informational articles. That is why he decided to start a website where everyone can shop conveniently, browse buying guides, and read educational posts. The website is called Electric Bike Paradise.