E-bike battery capacity calculator

Updated

By · Research and corrections policy

Estimate nominal watt-hours from your full trip distance, assumed energy use and reserve. This is a planning estimate, not a battery compatibility check or a guarantee of riding range.

THE BATTERY WORKBENCH

How much battery do you need?

Set your trip distance and energy use. See the capacity, reserve and equivalent amp-hours together.

Include the return journey if you cannot charge at your destination. Use your own measured consumption where available. The default is an editable example, not a tested bike rating. The percentage of capacity you plan to leave unused.
YOUR CAPACITY ESTIMATE

563 Wh

11.7 Ah at 48 V

Trip energy: 450 WhRemaining area = reserve

This is the nominal capacity needed for your assumptions. Real range varies with hills, speed, load, weather, battery age and assistance.

THE MATH, OPENLY

30 km × 15 Wh/km ÷ 0.80 = 562.5 Wh

Put the result in perspective

Illustrative pack capacities compared with this estimate. This does not establish fit or compatibility with your bike.

400 WhBelow this estimate
500 WhBelow this estimate
625 WhMeets this estimate
750 WhMeets this estimate
1000 WhMeets this estimate

Default inputs are fictional planning assumptions, not a measured bike rating.

A planning link contains the trip distance, energy assumption, reserve, voltage and units. Share only values you want recipients to see. This calculator does not save trips or approve replacement batteries.

For planning only. Match replacement batteries to the bike manufacturer's approved voltage, mounting, connectors and battery management system. Capacity alone does not establish compatibility or safety.

How is battery capacity calculated?

Required Wh = distance in kilometres × energy use in Wh/km ÷ (1 − reserve/100). Amp-hours = watt-hours ÷ nominal voltage. Include the return journey when you cannot charge at your destination.

What do typical planning scenarios look like?

Planning examples with 20% reserve; assumptions, not measured bike ranges
Trip distanceEnergy assumptionRequired capacity
20 km10 Wh/km250 Wh
20 km15 Wh/km375 Wh
20 km20 Wh/km500 Wh
40 km10 Wh/km500 Wh
40 km15 Wh/km750 Wh
40 km20 Wh/km1000 Wh
60 km10 Wh/km750 Wh
60 km15 Wh/km1125 Wh
60 km20 Wh/km1500 Wh

How should you choose the assumptions?

Use measured consumption from your own bike and route where available. Hills, assistance, load, weather and stop-start riding change consumption. The default 15 Wh/km and 20% reserve are editable examples. A replacement battery must match the bike manufacturer’s electrical and mechanical requirements.

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