The electric vehicle (EV) market is currently experiencing significant growth, with major automotive manufacturers increasingly entering the sector. Discussions around EV performance often highlight different perspectives, particularly when comparing consumer viewpoints with those of EV builders. Intrigued by this dynamic, especially concerning electric bikes and the broader EV trend spearheaded by companies like Tesla, I decided to analyze and compare power consumption.
Referencing publicly available data, I examined Tesla’s power consumption relative to speed for their Model S, Model 3, and Model X vehicles. Subsequently, I charted estimated power consumption for highly efficient electric bike motors up to 100 km/h (approximately 60 mph). For speeds exceeding this, up to 160 km/h, I utilized an ebike calculator to project power needs. It’s important to note that a Tesla Model 3 has an average weight of around 3800 lbs, while a considerably heavy ebike weighs approximately 100 lbs.
The results, visualized in the graph, are quite revealing. At lower speeds, the power consumption of an ebike is negligible compared to a Tesla. However, as speed increases, the power consumption of ebikes rises disproportionately to their weight advantage. Despite the significantly lower weight of an ebike, the data indicates that at 100 km/h, a 3800 lb Tesla operates at approximately twice the efficiency of a 100 lb ebike. This disparity in efficiency widens further at higher speeds.
This comparison raises important questions about the current state of electric bike technology. While EV cars, particularly those from Tesla, are demonstrating substantial advancements in both technology and design, electric bikes, across various power levels, appear to lag in terms of efficiency, especially as speed increases. This observation prompts a critical reflection on whether there are overlooked aspects in ebike design or motor technology that could be hindering performance, particularly in high-speed scenarios. Further investigation and innovation in ebike motor efficiency and aerodynamic design may be necessary to bridge this performance gap with electric cars.
