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. Obviously, a larger battery will get you further. Efficiency, however, is a mathematical measure of a battery's quality based on its watt-hour consumption per kilometer traveled.
MOTOR ASSISTANCE: The support factor indicates exactly how many times the supplied power an e-bike can achieve.
WEIGHT: E-bikes are heavy, aren't they? However, we've noticed that they're significantly lighter than in previous years.
SYSTEM WEIGHT: What is the maximum permissible weight of the driver and luggage?
BATTERY CHARGING TIME: You should allow up to four hours to recharge a battery.
NOISE LEVEL: E-bikes with rear-wheel drive are significantly quieter than those with mid-drive motors. We measure the drive system's noise level using a sound level meter.
BRAKING EFFECT: Brakes must comply with ISO standard 4210. Most importantly, all e-bikes passed the test. However, brake performance varies considerably.
STABILITY: An expensive e-bike should stand securely and not be blown over by the slightest breeze. We determine the pulling force 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
RIDING BEHAVIOR: This includes maneuverability and stability, acceleration, starting on a hill, or how (un)pleasant a bike is to ride with the drive switched off.
ERGONOMICS: This refers to the handling of the electronic bike, but also aspects such as the push assist, the insertion and removal of the battery, or the adjustability of the saddle.
SHIFTING: All e-bikes in the test have gears – but not everything that's installed necessarily makes sense. How precise is a gear shift, how easy is it to use? The Velomotion experts know every system and its quirks.
BRAKES: The most powerful disc brake doesn't necessarily make every bike safer. In everyday use, the easily modulated hydraulic rim brake is often the better choice – an assessment for which the opinion of an experienced expert is far more important than mere laboratory results.
DISPLAY: Different drives, different displays, and therefore different levels of readability, information content, and usability. Our test alone included 18 different display types.
FOCUS E-Bike Test 2017 – The test seal explained
