How to Choose a Long Range Electric Bike

Lynn Martelli
Lynn Martelli

A long range electric bike that goes far on one charge. In practice, range is one of the easiest specs to misunderstand because it’s affected by almost everything—your speed, the wind, the temperature, hills, tire choice, cargo weight, and how much you rely on the throttle versus pedal assist. Two riders can take the same e-bike on the same day and get dramatically different results.

So the smartest way to shop isn’t to chase the biggest advertised mileage number. It’s to understand what drives range, decide what reliable range means for your routes, and then pick a setup that gives you a comfortable buffer.

What “Long Range” Should Mean For Your Riding

If you commute 18 miles round-trip and you want to do it without charging at work, then 25–30 miles of dependable range is plenty. If you’re doing weekend rides that regularly hit 35–45 miles, you’ll want a bike that can deliver 50–60 miles without forcing you to baby the battery or crawl home in low assist.

That buffer matters because range estimates are often measured under ideal conditions: steady speed, flat terrain, lighter rider, warmer temperature, and conservative assist levels. In the real world, it’s normal for riders to see range shrink when they push higher speeds, use more throttle, or ride into headwinds.

The Range Number You Should Care About: Watt-Hours (Wh)

The battery’s energy capacity is best compared in watt-hours (Wh), not just amp-hours (Ah). The relationship is simple:

Watt-hours (Wh) = Volts (V) × Amp-hours (Ah).

Think of watt-hours as the size of the fuel tank. A bigger tank usually means more range—assuming everything else stays equal.

This is also why “Ah” can be misleading when it’s shown without voltage. A 60Ah battery sounds enormous, but it’s only meaningful once you know whether it’s 36V, 48V, or 52V. Multiply voltage by amp-hours and you get a clearer picture of how much energy you actually have to work with.

Why Power And Range Need To Be Balanced

Long range shoppers often want more than mileage—they want hill climbing, speed, and the ability to carry cargo. The catch is that higher power potential can tempt you into riding in ways that use energy faster. High speeds increase aerodynamic drag, which rises quickly as you go faster. Frequent starts and stops also cost range. Throttle-heavy riding typically drains batteries faster than steady pedal-assist riding, especially on heavier bikes.

None of that means you should avoid powerful e-bikes. It just means your battery needs to be sized for how you actually ride.  

The Hidden Range Factors Most Buyers Overlook

Tires are a big one. Wide, fat tires can be incredibly comfortable  on rough pavement, gravel, sand, or snow—but they generally create more rolling resistance than narrower commuter tires. If two bikes have the same battery, the one with narrower tires often goes farther, while the fat-tire bike often feels more stable and forgiving.

Weight also matters more than people expect, especially on hills and in stop-and-go traffic. A heavier e-bike can still be a great long-range option if it carries a correspondingly large battery, but the “miles per charge” you get will depend on how much mass you’re moving and how often you need to accelerate it.

Riding position plays a role too. Upright, cruiser-like posture is comfortable, but it’s typically less aerodynamic than a slightly forward commuter stance. Over longer distances at higher speeds, that can show up as measurable energy use.

Finally, drive system choices matter. Single-motor bikes can be very efficient. Dual motor (AWD) setups can provide excellent traction and climbing, but they can also draw more power when both motors are engaged—especially if you’re riding aggressively.

Charging, Battery Care, And Real Life Convenience

A long-range e-bike is much more practical if it can recharge on a schedule that fits your life. Charging speed, charger rating, and whether the battery is easy to access all affect how “long-range” the bike feels week to week.

Temperature also matters. Cold weather can reduce usable battery capacity, so winter riders often benefit from extra battery headroom. And for battery longevity, it’s generally better not to treat every ride like a full-to-empty drain cycle; most modern systems are designed for partial charges and regular use.

Tesway X7 AWD Is A Long Range Dual Motor E-Bike

To make these ideas concrete, it helps to look at a bike that’s clearly engineered around big range and big capability. The Tesway X7 AWD dual motor electric bike is positioned as a high-capacity, dual-motor, long-range e-bike with specs that reflect that goal.

Tesway lists the X7 AWD with a 52V 60Ah battery and an advertised range of up to 200 miles on pedal assist and about 180 miles on pure electric. Using the watt-hour formula, 52V × 60Ah equals 3,120Wh—a very large energy reserve compared with many mainstream commuter e-bikes.  That kind of battery capacity is exactly what you want to see if your priority is minimizing range anxiety, riding longer routes, or compensating for range-reducing factors like higher speeds, hills, heavier loads, or colder weather.

On the power side, Tesway lists a rated 52V 2000W motor system with peak power up to 52V 3600W, along with 200 N·m of torque and a stated max speed of 38 mph. In practical terms, that’s the kind of setup aimed at riders who want strong acceleration, confident climbing, and traction benefits associated with an AWD configuration—especially useful if your routes include steep grades, rough surfaces, or carrying cargo.

Tesway specifies full suspension, front and rear 4 piston dual hydraulic brakes with 203mm disc rotors, and 20″ × 4.0″ Kenda fat tires.  Those features tend to prioritize stability, comfort, and control—qualities that matter when your rides get longer and fatigue becomes a real factor.

Tesway also lists practical details that long range riders care about, including a 58.8V 8A charger, about 7 hours charging time, and a color LCD display with NFC. The bike is listed at 119 lbs with a max payload capacity of 350 lbs, which signals it’s built for durability and load-carrying, not lightweight portability.

Who is a bike like this best for? Generally, it fits riders who want maximum battery capacity, strong hill performance, and a platform that can handle heavier riders, passenger/cargo use, or mixed terrain—while accepting the tradeoffs that come with a larger, heavier build. It’s also worth noting that speeds like 38 mph may fall outside what many regions consider a standard e-bike class, so it’s smart to check your local rules before assuming you can ride everywhere the same way.

Bringing It All Together

Choosing a long-range e-bike is really about aligning three things: your real route needs, your riding style, and the battery’s watt-hour capacity. Once you evaluate a bike through that lens, the decision becomes clearer. You’re no longer guessing whether “200 miles” is realistic—you’re asking whether the battery is big enough that even your less-than-ideal days still comfortably hit your target distance.

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