FOCUS E-Bike Test 2017: How we test

FOCUS follows suit. After the e-bike test in 2016, we have now tested 60 bikes. This is the largest e-bike test in Germany! 50 test criteria were determined and queried for each e-bike in order to gain a meaningful and reliable overview of the quality of the e-bikes on the market.

In close cooperation with the renowned test laboratory Velotech from Schweinfurt and the bicycle experts from Velomotion.de from the Bavarian Forest, thousands of test data have been collected over the past few months - including on the specially developed test bench called "eRig" - and after a new, standardized test program. Unlike in 2016, we collected two ranges this year to make the laboratory results even more suitable for everyday use. In this way, the range was determined on a hill with a constant six percent steep incline. This range is relatively small, but meaningful. And quite honestly: who rides their e-bike for 20 kilometers - in one go - uphill? The second range applies to the level with 70 watts of personal input from the driver. Despite the low performance, speeds close to the limit of 25 kilometers per hour can be achieved over the long term. The result: The new e-bikes now cover a distance of 60 to 120 kilometers, which is more than a regular day tour.

The FOCUS E-Bike Test 2017 – These values from the test laboratory are included

RANGE EFFICIENCY: Not all batteries have the same capacity. Sure, I can get further with a larger battery. Efficiency calculates the quality of a battery in relation to the consumption of watt hours per kilometer driven.

MOTOR SUPPORT: The support factor indicates exactly how many times the performance an e-bike can achieve.

DIMENSIONS: E-bikes are heavy. However, we have noticed that they are significantly lighter than in previous years.

SYSTEM WEIGHT: How heavy can the driver and luggage be?

BATTERY CHARGING TIME: You have to estimate up to four hours to recharge a battery.

NOISE LEVEL: Rear-wheel drive e-bikes are significantly quieter than those with a mid-engine. We measure the volume of the drive with a sound level meter.

BRAKING EFFECT: The ISO standard 4210 applies to brakes. The most important thing: all e-bikes passed. Nevertheless, the performance of the brakes fluctuates considerably.

STABILITY: An expensive e-bike should stand securely and not be blown over by the slightest breeze. We determine the pulling force that is required to unbalance an e-bike (with and without panniers) when stationary.

FOCUS E-Bike Test 2017 - These points are determined in the practical test

DRIVING BEHAVIOR: These include maneuverability and stability, acceleration, starting off on a hill or how (un)comfortably a bike is to be ridden with the drive switched off.

ERGONOMICS: This is about the handling of the electronic bike, but also aspects such as the pushing aid, installing and removing the battery or the adjustability of the saddle.

SHIFTING: All e-bikes in the test have a gear shift – but not everything installed here makes sense. How precise is a circuit, how easy is it to operate? The Velomotion experts know every system and its "quirks".

BRAKES: The most powerful disc brake does not necessarily make every bike safer. In everyday use, the hydraulic rim brake that is easy to dose is often the better choice - an assessment for which the opinion of an experienced expert is more important than the pure laboratory results.

DISPLAY: Different drives, different displays and thus different quality levels of readability, information content and usability. In our test alone, 18 display types could be found.