E-bikes have exploded in popularity over the last few years, and it’s no surprise given how much of an incredible impact they can have on the comfort and enjoyment you can get out of cycling.

If you’re not sure what an E-bike is or are a little unsure exactly how they work, let us quickly elaborate.

An E-bike is much like a traditional bicycle but it uses the electricity provided by a rechargeable battery to add a little extra power to your pedal stroke.

The main type of E-bike is known as the pedelec, which is a type of E-bike that doesn’t use a throttle to deliver additional power and instead works with your pedal strokes to assist and make pedaling easier, more powerful, and more comfortable.

Some of these E-bikes can get up to impressive speeds and have quite impressive ranges, making cycling much more comfortable over long distances or difficult terrain.

There are also E-bikes that use a throttle mounted on the handlebars to add speed and power to your pedaling, and these bikes often sit in a legal grey area between electrical mopeds and bicycles, and the regulations governing these types of bikes often differ significantly depending on where you are.

Whichever style of E-bike you’re using, however, it will definitely be a huge change and open up a whole new world of possibilities to cyclists, from those who need a little extra help getting up to speed, to those who want to go faster than ever before.

A big part of the appeal of the E-bike is that they make cycling a little less strenuous and can take some of the burdens out of cycling, particularly on difficult terrain or hills which are often very exhausting and difficult to tackle for even the fittest cyclists.

E-bikes are perfect for this as they can really help you get up and over hills far easier than a traditional bicycle, by adding additional power to your pedal strokes and keeping your speed high even using a pedelec which is often favored by mountain bikers.

Do electric bikes make hills easier?

E-bikes definitely make cycling over hills easier. There are two main types of motor used by E-bikes, the hub motor, and the mid-drive motor.

Both of these are capable of getting your bike up even the toughest of hills if you have the skill to help it navigate them.

However, the mid-drive motor is the best choice for particularly steep, demanding, or technical hills because it has a little more power than hub motors which are better for flat terrain or lighter hill riding.

That being said, a hub motor will definitely help even on tough hills but it won’t be able to make things as easy as a mid-drive.

Either way, the E-bike will make the hill a little less daunting and get you up there a little quicker, allowing you to ride further and have greater control over the bike thanks to the added grip and torque provided by the motor.

How do you ride an electric bike uphill?

As with most types of cycling, it looks simple enough but there are a lot of key things to keep in mind to ensure you’re getting the most efficiency and comfort out of your pedal stroke.

This is no different with E-bikes. When riding uphill there are a few things, in particular, to keep in mind.

Body Position – As with all types of riding in any discipline and on any bike, body position is absolutely critical. Correct posture and stance will make a huge difference in how easily you’re able to ride uphill even on an E-bike.

For more neutral or lighter hills riding in a relatively relaxed neutral position is ok, however riding on steep hills requires some adjustments to help make things easier.

You want to stay forward on the saddle as much as you can and lean forward with your upper body keeping your chest tilted towards the handlebars.

This helps keep some weight over the front wheel which will help prevent the bike from tipping back on particularly steep sections and provide the grip you need to stay on track.

That being said, you still need to keep enough weight over the back tire to give enough traction to drive you forward, so don’t get up out of the saddle entirely unless you come to a particularly technical section of track.

If you do need to stand up in the pedals, keep your weight forward and your joints poised to help absorb any bumps in the terrain and assist with moving your weight around the bike to keep it balanced and stable.

Line choice – This is key to making an uphill ride as safe and stable as it can be. Try to stay in the middle of the track and choose routes that avoid obstacles such as rocks, routes, or slippery leaves and stones to increase traction and reduce the chance of wheel spin or sliding.

How fast does an electric bike go uphill?

Sometimes cycling up the steepest hills without any assistance can bring you down to a crawl, and it’s no wonder.

The weight of the bike, the steepness of the hill and its difficult terrain plus gravity, and the sheer exhaustion that comes with cycling often make hills a grueling challenge for even the most skilled and dedicated cyclist. 

E-bikes can completely reverse these daunting challenges and make them much more bearable if not enjoyable, after all going faster is always fun whether it’s uphill or downhill.

The average speed for going up a steep hill can vary quite widely depending on a range of factors such as the type of E-bike you’re using, the type of motor you’re using, the amount of charge in the battery, the weight of the rider and the bike as well as the prevailing weather conditions and the state of the terrain.

However, even with all those variables making an educated guess is possible thanks to the reliability and excellent performance most E-bikes are capable of today.

The average rider can expect to see speeds ranging from 18 MPH to 25 MPH going up quite steep hills, and this can be achieved without having to put in anywhere near the effort and exertion you’d need to apply to achieve a quarter of that speed on a standard bike.

This is perhaps the best indication of just how amazing E-bikes are. They make cycling more accessible and make it so that even those who aren’t the fittest or who have had injuries capable of enjoying all the amazing pleasure cycling can offer and still get an amazing workout nonetheless.

E-bikes also make a great choice for riders who have been injured, building confidence and keeping you in the saddle while you recover.

While a speed range of 18 MPH to 25 MPH sounds very quick indeed, there are some who will desire faster speeds, which are achievable with modifications and custom tweaks.

Be aware however that successive difficult hills will naturally take a toll on the battery life of your E-bike, which is definitely something to keep track of particularly for new riders unused to E-bikes or unsure of their performance over difficult terrain.

What electric bike is best for hills?

The best E-bike for hills will use a mid-drive motor as mentioned above, and will typically have a fairly upright geometry with good power and range to give you peace of mind no matter how difficult the hill you plan to tackle is.

Weight is also an important factor, the lighter the bike the easier it will be able to get over that hill, so weigh this up against a bigger battery with extended range.