Estimate realistic e-bike range from battery capacity, rider weight, terrain and assist level. Presets for full power and lightweight SL bikes, plus range extender support. Physics-based model, not manufacturer best-case figures.
How far can an e-bike go on one charge? A 500 Wh battery on a 23 kg e-bike with an 80 kg rider: 40-70 km in Tour mode on rolling terrain. Eco mode: 70-100 km. Turbo mode: 25-40 km. Real-world range depends on battery size, rider weight, terrain (flat vs hilly), assist level, wind, temperature and tyre pressure. Manufacturer claims are 30-50% higher than reality because they test in ideal conditions. Enter your actual setup below for a realistic estimate.
Unlike manufacturer range claims (tested at 60 kg rider on flat road in Eco mode), this calculator uses physics-based modeling with YOUR weight, YOUR terrain and YOUR assist level. Because a 95 kg rider on hilly terrain in Sport mode gets half the range of the marketing brochure.
Inputs
Set the battery capacity yourself.
Bottle-style extra battery. Common sizes: TQ 160 Wh, Mahle 173 Wh, Bosch PowerMore 250 Wh.
Estimated Range
58km
Best case: 70 km · Worst case: 44 km
Energy use: 7.7 Wh/km
Power breakdown (motor demand)
Rolling resistance27 W
Air resistance68 W
Climbing154 W
Motor output162 W
Range is estimated from a physics model using rolling resistance, air drag and climbing power. Actual range varies with riding style, tyre pressure, battery age and motor efficiency. Manufacturer range figures are typically measured in Eco mode on flat terrain. Expect 40–60% of the advertised figure under typical conditions.
This calculator is for reference only. Actual range and charging times vary with battery age, temperature, terrain, rider weight, and assist level.
Most e-bike manufacturers quote range based on optimal conditions: Eco assist mode, completely flat terrain, a light rider (75 kg), no wind, and 20°C temperature. Under these conditions, a 500 Wh battery can deliver 90–110 km.
What changes in the real world
Assist level: Commuters typically use Tour or Sport mode, giving 40–50% less range than Eco.
Terrain: Rolling hills add 20–40% more energy use compared to flat roads.
Rider weight: An 85 kg rider uses 10–15% more energy than the test standard of 75 kg.
Wind: A 15 km/h headwind can reduce range by 15–25%.
Temperature: Cold batteries (below 10°C) lose 15–30% of capacity.
How to read manufacturer claims
When a manufacturer claims 100 km range, expect 50–65 km under typical commuting conditions. For planning purposes, use 55–60% of the advertised range as your realistic estimate.
This calculator uses a physics-based model, not manufacturer test conditions. The range shown reflects your actual inputs, not a best-case scenario.
Assist Level is the Biggest Range Factor
The assist level determines what fraction of total power demand the motor covers. In Eco mode the motor provides only 35% of power, so you do more of the work. In Turbo mode the motor covers 100%, giving maximum speed and acceleration but shortest range.
Practical guide
Eco: Best for long days and gentle terrain. Good fitness required as you do 65% of the work.
Tour: The sweet spot for most commuters. Comfortable assistance, good range.
Sport: Use for headwinds, heavier loads, or when you need to arrive without sweating.
Turbo: For steep climbs, sprints, or when range does not matter.
Range multiplier
Switching from Turbo to Eco mode typically triples your range. Going from Sport to Tour adds approximately 35–40% more distance per charge.
On long rides, start in Eco or Tour and switch to Sport or Turbo for steep climbs. You will significantly extend your total range.
Cold Kills Battery Range
Lithium-ion batteries are chemical energy stores. Cold temperatures slow the electrochemical reactions, reducing both peak power output and total usable capacity. This is not a fault; it is physics.
Impact by temperature
Above 20°C: Full rated capacity. Optimal operating range.
10–20°C: Approximately 5% capacity reduction. Usually unnoticeable.
Below 0°C: Up to 30% reduction. A 500 Wh battery effectively becomes ~350 Wh.
How to minimise cold weather impact
Store the battery indoors overnight. Never leave it in an unheated garage in winter.
Bring the battery to room temperature before a long ride.
If possible, use a neoprene battery cover during cold rides.
Charge immediately after arriving home while the battery is still warm from use.
The battery recovers its full capacity when it warms up. Cold weather does not cause permanent damage.
E-bike Range Chart by Battery Size and Assist Level
A 500 Wh battery gives 40-70 km in Tour mode, 70-100 km in Eco, and 25-40 km in Turbo for an average 80 kg rider on rolling terrain.
Battery (Wh)
Eco Mode
Tour Mode
Sport Mode
Turbo Mode
250 Wh
35-50 km
20-35 km
15-25 km
10-20 km
400 Wh
55-80 km
35-55 km
25-40 km
18-30 km
500 Wh
70-100 km
40-70 km
30-50 km
25-40 km
625 Wh
85-125 km
55-85 km
40-60 km
30-50 km
750 Wh
100-150 km
65-100 km
45-75 km
35-60 km
Based on 80 kg rider, 23 kg e-bike, rolling terrain, road surface. Heavier riders: subtract 10-15%. Hilly terrain: subtract 20-30%. Mountain/off-road: subtract 30-40%.
What Affects E-bike Range? The 7 Key Factors
Battery size is just one of seven factors. Rider weight, terrain, assist level, wind, temperature, tyre pressure and riding style all affect how far you go.
Factor
Impact on Range
Example
Battery size (Wh)
Directly proportional
500 Wh = roughly 2x range of 250 Wh
Rider + cargo weight
-10-15% per 10 kg extra
90 kg rider gets 10-15% less than 70 kg
Terrain (elevation)
-20-30% for hilly
500m climbing per ride cuts range 20-30%
Assist level
2-3x difference
Eco = 2-3x range of Turbo
Headwind
-10-20% in strong wind
25 km/h headwind cuts range significantly
Temperature
-10-30% in cold
Below 5°C lithium batteries lose capacity
Tyre pressure + surface
-10-20% for off-road
Gravel/MTB tyres on soft ground = more drag
Why Is My Real Range Lower Than the Manufacturer Claims?
Manufacturer range figures are produced in the lowest assist mode on flat terrain with a light rider. Real-world range is typically 40 to 60 percent of the claimed maximum. The four biggest factors, in order of impact, are assist mode, elevation gain, temperature and total weight.
Assist mode. This is the single lever you control on every ride. In Eco the motor covers about 35 percent of the total power demand, in Turbo it covers all of it, so Turbo can consume three to four times more energy per km than Eco. Dropping one mode down, from Sport to Tour, already buys back roughly a quarter of your range.
Elevation gain. Climbing is the largest single consumer of battery energy because lifting the combined mass of rider and bike costs energy that flat riding never demands. On a full power eMTB in the highest assist mode, plan roughly 100 Wh per 300 m of climbing, which drops to about 55 Wh in Tour mode where you supply more of the work yourself. Switching the terrain setting above from rolling to hilly cuts the estimate by close to 40 percent.
Temperature. Lithium-ion cells deliver less usable capacity when cold, and below 5°C the drop becomes clearly noticeable, up to 30 percent below freezing. Store and charge the battery indoors in winter and start the ride with a warm pack, because capacity returns once the cells warm up rather than being lost permanently. If your range fell off and stayed low across all seasons, that points at cell ageing instead, which you can assess with the e-bike battery health check.
Total weight. What matters is rider plus luggage plus the bike itself, not body weight alone, and every extra 10 kg costs roughly 7 percent of range on rolling terrain and more on climbs. This factor hits lightweight SL bikes hardest, because a 320 to 430 Wh battery has far less headroom to absorb a loaded pannier than a 750 Wh pack does. Manufacturer tests use a rider around 60 to 65 kg, which is well below what most people actually weigh with kit.
Put together: Bosch quoting 40 to 100 km for a 500 Wh pack is technically true in ideal conditions, but most riders use Tour or Sport mode, weigh 75 to 95 kg and ride rolling terrain with some headwind. This calculator uses physics, not marketing.
How to Maximize E-bike Range
Switch to Eco mode on flat sections (saves 40-60% battery), shift to lower gears before hills (motor works more efficiently at higher cadence), and keep tyres at correct pressure.
Use Eco on flat, Tour on rolling, Sport only on steep climbs
Shift to easier gear BEFORE the hill (higher cadence = more efficient motor)
Keep tyre pressure correct (low pressure = more rolling resistance = less range)
Pedal actively (e-bikes amplify YOUR input, more pedaling = less battery drain)
Avoid sustained 25+ km/h (air resistance increases exponentially)
In cold weather: store battery inside overnight, start ride with warm battery
Check battery health annually (degraded cells reduce range)
E-bike Battery Capacity Explained: Wh, Ah and V
Battery capacity in Wh (watt-hours) = Ah (amp-hours) x V (volts). A 13.4 Ah battery at 36V = 500 Wh. A 17.5 Ah battery at 36V = 625 Wh. Wh is the only number that matters for range comparison. A 500 Wh battery from Bosch, Shimano, or any brand gives roughly the same range at the same assist level. Ah alone is misleading because voltage varies (36V vs 48V). Always compare Wh, not Ah.
Dual Battery and Range Extender Options
Some e-bikes support dual batteries (Bosch PowerMore, Specialized Range Extender) that add 250-500 Wh for 50-100% more range on a 500 Wh bike. Lightweight SL systems use smaller bottle-style packs instead: TQ 160 Wh, Mahle 173 Wh. Because the gain is proportional, the same 160 Wh extender is worth about 40% more range on a 400 Wh SL bike but only about 20% on a 750 Wh full power bike. Enter yours in the range extender field above and the estimate uses the combined capacity. Dual battery is ideal for touring, long commutes, or heavy riders. It adds 1-2 kg weight and costs 180 to 460 EUR (200 to 500 USD). Alternative: carry a second battery in a backpack (only for smaller 250-400 Wh packs). Some frames have space for a second battery mount.
40-70 km in Tour mode for an 80 kg rider on rolling terrain. Eco mode: 70-100 km. Turbo: 25-40 km. Real range depends on your weight, terrain, and assist level. Manufacturer claims of 100+ km are based on ideal conditions (light rider, flat road, Eco mode) that most riders never experience.
What affects e-bike range the most?
Assist level has the biggest impact: Eco gives 2-3x the range of Turbo. After that: rider weight (-10-15% per extra 10 kg), terrain (-20-30% for hilly), and temperature (-10-30% in cold weather below 5°C). Battery size sets the baseline, but how you ride determines how far that baseline takes you.
Why is my e-bike range so low?
Manufacturer range is tested in the lowest assist mode on flat road with a 60-65 kg rider at 20 km/h, 20°C and no wind, so a real range of 40-60% of the advertised number is normal and not a defect. The four biggest factors, in order of impact, are assist mode (Turbo uses 3-4x the energy per km of Eco), elevation gain, temperature (below 5°C capacity drops noticeably) and total weight including luggage. If your range dropped suddenly and stays low in warm weather too, check battery health rather than your riding style.
Does a range extender double my range?
No, it adds its capacity proportionally. A 160 Wh extender on a 400 Wh SL bike is a 40% capacity increase, so roughly 40% more range, while the same extender on a 750 Wh full power bike adds only about 20%. The extender weighs about 1 to 1.5 kg, which has a negligible effect on the result compared with the capacity it adds.
How do I calculate e-bike battery range?
Rough formula: battery Wh divided by 10-20 = range in km. Divide by 10 for Turbo/hilly. Divide by 15 for Tour/rolling. Divide by 20 for Eco/flat. Example: 500 Wh / 15 = 33 km (Tour, rolling) to 500 Wh / 10 = 50 km. For a precise estimate factoring your weight and terrain, use the calculator above.
Does weight affect e-bike range?
Yes significantly. Every 10 kg of additional weight increases energy consumption by approximately 5–8% on flat terrain and 10–15% on hills. Cargo adds more impact than rider weight because it raises the total mass without adding human power.
How does cold weather affect e-bike battery range?
Lithium-ion batteries lose approximately 15% capacity at 0–10°C and up to 30% at temperatures below freezing. Store your battery indoors in winter and let it warm before long rides.
What assist mode gives the longest range?
Eco mode gives the longest range: typically 2.5–3× more than Turbo mode. For commuting, Tour mode offers a good balance of assistance and range.
How many Wh per km does an e-bike use?
A typical e-bike uses 8–20 Wh/km depending on assist level, terrain and rider weight. Eco mode on flat terrain: 8–12 Wh/km. Turbo mode on hills: 18–25 Wh/km.
Does going uphill drain the battery faster?
Yes. Climbing requires significantly more power: a 5% average grade roughly doubles energy consumption compared to flat terrain. Some e-bikes recover a small amount of energy on descents through regenerative braking.