E-bikes are everywhere these days – they look like a regular bicycle to casual onlookers, but the rider going uphill without pedaling or seemingly exerting any effort is a dead giveaway. E-bike adoption doesn’t appear to be slowing down! According to energy.gov, there were 1.1 million e-bikes sold in the United States in 2022, almost four times as many as were sold in 2019. Many folks are using these bikes as a method of commuting, which means riding in both rain and shine. Rust protection and prevention on your valuable electric bike ensures your bike will last for years to come.

Why Choose An Electric Bicycle?

Electric bicycles have all of the benefits of a regular bicycle with the added benefit of an electric motor, meaning you can travel farther with less effort. Riders report reduced stress and more time exploring the outdoors. You might think that electric bicycle riders don’t work as hard, but it turns out they put in nearly as much effort as on a regular bike, and travel much further as a result. The electric motor provides a boost during hill climbs and when energy levels are low.

For commuters, bike commuting was in the realm of avid cyclists, who often needed to shower before starting their workday. This is no longer necessary thanks to e-bikes that allow you to cruise into work without breaking a sweat.

E-Bikes Have Problems

Despite the benefits, there are concerns about safety, quality, and longevity. Entry-level e-bike models are often a mash-up of a low-cost bicycle, hub mounted motor, battery, and controller hardware. The traditional bicycles used in the construction of these electric bicycles were not originally designed to be used as e-bikes but have been retrofit to include e-bike hardware, leading to safety concerns related to build quality. In one example, a lawsuit alleged that a popular e-bike manufacturer was to blame for the death of a 12 year old when she fell off a moving bicycle.

Furthermore, highly energy-dense lithium batteries that power these bicycles have been known to cause fires. This issue is exacerbated in urban areas such as New York City, where electric bikes are widespread. Dozens of deaths and hundreds of fires have been reported since 2019, leading to the need to set up special outdoor charging stations.

Lastly, low-cost electric bicycles are made by overseas manufacturers, then branded by online-only bicycle companies that do not have a dealer network. We have heard that bike shops and many bike mechanics decline to service inexpensive electric bikes, citing difficulty in sourcing parts and lack of repair information. Lack of parts and service mean some of these bikes are disposable, which is harming the environment in a different way than the cars that they are supposed to replace.

Preserve Your Investment

The good news is that every year, the e-bike industry is always evolving and improving. If you want to purchase a high quality e-bike that is serviceable, a local bike shop is the best bet. Major bicycle manufacturers use high quality parts and ensure that service and support is available for years to come. As for low-cost e-bikes, parts and support is more of a gamble, as some fly by night bike brands put their label on bikes made overseas and then cease to exist shortly after. Parts and information for these bikes should be available but more difficult to locate. Using well-known, established brands for e-bikes and parts ensures the highest chance that your e-bike will go the distance.

Once you have the bike in your possession, smart storage is imperative. Rust and corrosion can easily take hold on steel and aluminum components including chains, hubs, cables, rims, spokes, and more. Our bicycle cover is perfect for e-bikes, featuring our exclusive VCI protection that lasts for up to 5 years. If you are storing any replacement parts, we offer various solutions to help your ferrous metal containing parts to avoid corrosion. Our VCI poly bags are great for chains, cables, spokes, sprockets and more. In addition, our vapor capsules release odorless, harmless VCI molecules into cabinets or storage containers, protecting your spare parts from damaging corrosion.

For the most effective protection against corrosion, we recommend storing your bike indoors if possible. However, due to safety concerns with charging lithium batteries, it is recommended that the battery be charged and stored outside of your home if possible, and stored partially charged if not going to be used for a long time. Some e-bikes do not allow the removal of the battery, and we suggest avoiding those models as it makes it more difficult to safely store and replace the battery.

Smart selection of a quality electric bicycle, and careful maintenance, storage, and rust prevention should ensure that you get years of use and fun out of your electric bike. We hope that these tips allow you to stay active and healthy for as long as possible. Happy Trails!

*************@************ts.com“>Contact Zerust for information on how to prevent e-bike rust, bike rust or Zerust bicycle covers by emailing us or calling (330) 405-1965.

Additional Resources:

The Health Benefits of Electric Bikes, Kiran Herbert, PeopleForBikes.com, April 28, 2022

More Blog Entries:

Zerust Bicycle Covers Shield Against Bike Rust, April 25, 2020, Zerust Prevent E-Bike Rust Blog