What does a charge cost?
Multiply the battery’s watt-hours by your price for a kilowatt-hour. On Southern California Edison’s tiered plan that is 30¢ in Tier 1 and 40¢ in Tier 2.1 Chargers lose about 15% as heat, so we add that. An e-bike uses about 15 to 25 Wh a mile, which comes to about a penny a mile or less.
Try it · Cost of a charge
What does one full charge cost?
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Source 1 · with 15% lost in the charger
How long does it take to charge?
Divide the battery’s watt-hours by what the charger puts out (its volts times its amps, printed on it). A 2 A charger on a 48 V battery gives about 100 W, so a 600 Wh battery takes about six hours. The last part of a charge goes slower, so leave a little extra.
Try it · Charge time
How long until it’s full?
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Volts × amps = charger watts
Will it make my trip?
Makers measure range in good conditions: a light rider, flat ground, low assist. At the counter we tell people to plan on about two thirds of the maker’s number, and to charge more often in the cold.
Try it · Trip check
Will this bike make my round trip?
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Our counter rule: plan on two thirds of the maker’s range
How do I charge at home, safely?
Lithium-ion batteries are behind many of the fires the CPSC has counted from e-bikes and scooters.3 Since January 1, 2026, e-bikes and batteries sold in California must be tested by an accredited lab, and the seller must show you the report if you ask.2
Try it · Your charging setup
Tick what you already do
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Source 3