Electric bikes

E-bike basics

E-bikes help you zip up hills, travel further faster, and arrive at your destination feeling fresh.

There's a huge range of e-bike styles for all kinds of riders. Try a range of styles to find the one that suits you best.

E-bikes are heavier than regular bikes, which means they handle differently. Most shops will be happy to let you go for a test ride. It's wise to ask all the questions you would when buying a regular bike.

Features

Motors

• E-bikes come with a range of power settings which change the level of assistance. Some also have a throttle.
• The motor can be in the front or back wheel or in the middle of the bike around the bottom bracket.
• A motor in the rear wheel or bottom bracket is ideal, as it makes the bike easier to control.

Batteries

• Batteries are usually attached to the bike frame, or on a rack over the rear wheel.
• You can remove the battery pack to charge it, or charge it while it's still on the bike.

Speed

• E-bike speeds vary depending on the type of motor and batteries a model has.
• Some bikes have a top motor-assisted speed of 25km/h. Others reach 32 km/h or higher.

Tips for riding e-bikes

• Spend time getting used to your e-bike in an empty car park or elsewhere away from traffic before trying longer rides.
• Keep an eye on the display panel showing how long you can ride before the battery runs out.
• Ride safely on the road by scanning well ahead, signalling and making eye contact with drivers.
• You can ride an e-bike with the motor off, but its weight can make it hard work to pedal.

You can test out different e-bike models on our regular Try an e-bike course.

Using gears and levels of assist

• Use the gears on an e-bike as you would on a normal bike.
• Change down into an easier gear for going uphill or coming to a stop.
• Change into a higher gear when going fast or downhill.
• Try out different levels of assist and how they respond when you're stopping and starting.
• Practise changing levels of assist. The higher the level, the less range you will get from the battery.
• If you stop at an intersection in a high gear and high level of assist you'll take off quickly when you start pedalling again.

Adjusting your speed

• Be cautious — you're likely to go faster on an e-bike than on a regular bike.
• On a shared paths, use a low power setting and ride slowly. Use a bell, and give others plenty of space when passing.

Try a free one-month e-bike loan

There's no cost or commitment. Just give it a go.

This free one-month e-bike loan gives you the opportunity to experience how an e-bike might fit into your everyday life. Use it to commute, run errands or just enjoy the ride. Give it a go and see how it works for you. You'll get:

• a fully equipped e-bike, helmet and lock—ready to ride
• flexible pick-up options
• journey planning support to get help mapping your route to work, school, or the shops
• support services to get out on your bike and connect with others in your area with group social rides
• a try before you buy opportunity for discounts or extended loans after the trial.

About the e-bike loan 

Why we're doing this

AT is offering an electric-bicycle (e-bikes) loan scheme to:

• make e-bikes more accessible and available to Aucklanders
• support people cycling more in areas with infrastructure upgrades or to/from key destinations
• allow people to trial an e-bike to see if it’s a good option before considering purchasing one

Electric bikes are increasingly popular, but the cost to purchase an e-bike is higher than a push-bicycle. This can limit people’s ability to try them. 

Who the e-bike loan scheme is for

To be eligible for the one-month free e-bike loan, you'll need to:

• be interested in experiencing how an e-bike fits into your lifestyle
• be 18 years of age or older
• live (or work) in one of the areas where this loan scheme is being offered
• be able to confidently ride on shared paths and quiet roads
• have somewhere secure and protected (under-cover) to store the bike during your one-month loan
• commit to the pick up and drop off timings for your loan period
• put down a credit or EFTPOS card in case of damage.

If you're interested but don’t meet the eligibility criteria, you can:

• check out our adult bike courses
• check out other e-bike loan schemes across Auckland (opens in a new tab) if you don’t live in one of the loan areas.

Where is this loan scheme is being offered

This e-bike loan scheme is being delivered to:

• Mangere (residents only)
• Hobsonville (residents only)
• Henderson (residents only)
• Glen Innes (residents only)
• Wynyard Quarter (staff only)
• Auckland Airport (staff only).

EcoMatters also offers e-bike loans (opens in a new tab) through our Bike Hubs at:

• Forrest Hill
• Glenn Innes
• New Lynn
• Onehunga
• Pakuranga
• Queens Wharf.

Where to collect the bike from

Your e-bike will be delivered as a cohort to a local place in your community on a specified day. The pick-up will be from the same location four weeks later.

If you’re a staff member working in one of the above areas where delivery is for staff only, your e-bike will be delivered to your workplace on a specified day. You can also collect it and ride it home directly from the Electric Bike Team on a day you’ve arranged with them. The pick-up will be from the same location four weeks later. 

Extending the loan period 

This e-bike loan is free for a period of one month only. We hope you enjoy it so much that you want to continue. If you want to keep riding an e-bike, you can:

• purchase your new own e-bike (or push-bike)
• extend the loan of the e-bike you’re borrowing (or a different model) at your own cost
• purchase a second-hand e-bike (or push-bike) – check out our Bike Hubs.

We'll give you more information on these options after the trial.