Speed is one of the most significant factors affecting e-bike range. Learn how different speeds impact your battery consumption and range.
For a typical 500Wh e-bike on flat terrain: at 15 km/h you get ~120 km range, at 20 km/h ~100 km, at 25 km/h ~80 km, at 30 km/h ~60 km, and at 35 km/h only ~45 km. Riding at 25 km/h instead of 20 km/h reduces range by approximately 30% because aerodynamic drag increases with the square of velocity.
Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed, meaning that doubling your speed requires four times the power. This non-linear relationship dramatically affects range.
Optimal speed for maximum range. Low aerodynamic drag allows for 100-150+ km on large batteries.
Best balance of speed and range. Most e-bikes achieve 80-120 km at this speed.
Good speed but reduced range. Expect 60-90 km depending on battery capacity.
High speed significantly reduces range. Expect 40-70 km due to increased aerodynamic drag.
The relationship between speed and range is non-linear due to aerodynamic drag. At low speeds, rolling resistance dominates. At higher speeds, aerodynamic drag becomes the primary energy consumer.
Drag Force = 0.5 × Air Density × Drag Coefficient × Frontal Area × Speed²Since drag increases with speed squared, doubling speed requires four times the power, dramatically reducing range.
For a typical 500Wh e-bike on flat terrain:
See how speed affects your specific e-bike's range.
Use Range Calculator