What type of electric motor? Rear-wheel, mid-drive, or front-wheel motor?

A crucial decision when purchasing an electric bike is your preference for the type of electric motor. While the mid-drive motor is highly popular nowadays, there are also many advantages to choosing a rear-wheel drive or a front-wheel motor. Much also depends on which type of electric bike you intend to buy.

Just like cars, you have race cars, city cars, small cars, but also vans or SUVs. These cars have different types of engines, and with electric bikes, it’s exactly the same. We have city bikes, cargo bikes, longtail bikes, cargo bikes, but also speed pedelecs or minibikes and fat bikes.

For each type of electric bike, we’ll go over the choice for the electric motor. Every bike will move forward with any type of motor, but it’s about finding the one with the best ride comfort and that offers the highest safety and control while riding.

The three types of electric bike motors

Front-wheel drive

With front-wheel drive, the motor is connected to the front wheel. It’s a good way to keep the price down and is safe as long as we don’t ride too aggressively (just like any bike, actually). With sufficient weight on the front wheel, you have good control and grip. The torque or power of a front-wheel motor usually ranges between 20 to 35 Nm.

Mid-drive Motors

Mid-drive motors are located on the bottom bracket and are connected to the rear wheel through a chain (metal or belt). This type of motor is the most stable and delivers the most consistent power. They are heavier and more expensive due to the additional technology and features they offer.

They accelerate slightly slower compared to other types of electric motors, but maintain a high constant speed. Especially uphill, they perform better than the alternatives. The torque varies from 50 to 85 Nm. How much torque you need depends on the type of bike and your usage.

Rear-wheel Drive

Rear-wheel drive means that the motor is built into the rear wheel. They are slightly cheaper than mid-drive motors and usually have less technology, but that doesn’t make them inferior. They are convenient and fast, especially for reaching and maintaining high top speeds.

The downside is that they quickly lose speed when riding uphill, and the grip may be slightly less because they are on the rear wheel. The advantage is that due to the lighter weight, you can more easily stand straight on the bike to exert power. With heavy electric mid-drive motors, this is more difficult. The power of a rear-wheel motor varies from 35 to 55 Nm. This applies to speed pedelecs as well.

The best e-motor for each type of e-bike

Electric City Bikes

E-city bikes are mainly used in the city (duh) and have a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour. You typically have an upright riding position, although there are also sporty electric bikes. For these bikes, front-wheel drive is good enough. We don’t see it often, especially the Vanmoof bikes are well-known electric bikes with front-wheel motor.

Mid-drive motors are very popular. Most e-bikes have a mid-drive motor. Especially brands like Bosch and Shimano are everywhere. But we also see Bafang and Yamaha finding a place in the market. A mid-drive motor will always offer the most stability and comfort, but it can be a bit overkill.

Rear-wheel drive is also possible. The pros and cons of the different types of electric motors remain limited within city use. So, you simply choose a quality electric city bike that fits your budget.

E-Folding Bikes

Folding bikes are compact and small, leaving little room for a mid-drive motor. Tern has a good electric bike with a mid-drive motor, but you won’t find many others.

For electric folding bikes, front or rear-wheel drive is more than sufficient. Choosing front-wheel drive can be the most cost-effective option, as it is easier to replace and maintain than rear or mid-drive motors.

Electric Road Bikes

For sporty bikes like electric road bikes, rear-wheel drive is the logical choice. On a road bike, you usually ride faster than 25 km/h or aim for higher speeds. Weight is of the utmost importance, making a lightweight rear-wheel motor the best option.

Are you considering riding an electric road bike? Then we want to mention that the extra weight of the motor also makes it harder to climb compared to a normal road bike. Losing some weight yourself is much easier than paying the extra amount for a super-light e-road bike.

Electric Mountain Bikes

Electric mountain bikes require more grip and stability. Due to the required torque, we recommend a mid-drive motor for mountain bikes.

E-Gravel Bikes

For gravel bikes, which fall somewhere between mountain bikes and road bikes, you can choose between rear-wheel drive or mid-drive motors, depending on your specific needs. The rear-wheel drive seems like the best choice, but if you want to tackle a lot of mountain bike-like terrain, a mid-drive motor will serve you better.

Electric Cargo Bikes

Different rules apply to electric cargo bikes. There are several different types of cargo bikes. They are designed to handle weight, and below we explain why we choose the electric mid-drive motor. The choice of electric motor is also different for speed pedelecs.

Electric Cargo Bikes

Cargo bikes are extremely popular. For electric cargo bikes, we prefer the stability of a mid-drive motor. These bikes are usually used to transport cargo or children. The weight of these bikes is relatively high, so the few extra kilograms of a mid-drive motor make no difference. With a powerful mid-drive motor, you will also have sufficient support uphill, even with cargo.

Long John Bikes

Long John bikes are a type of cargo bike without a box. Like cargo bikes, the choice of motor for these bikes is negotiable. The preference is for a mid-drive motor because of its stability and consistent power. For businesses, these types of electric cargo bikes are a good choice. If you’re delivering or transporting heavy cargo, you’ll want a mid-drive motor.

E-Longtail Bikes

For longtail bikes, which are also a type of cargo bike, the same opinion applies, although a rear-wheel drive motor is an option here. A mid-drive motor is attractive because it provides a low center of gravity that ensures good control and grip.

Rear-wheel drive is possible, but it must be powerful enough. We’ve seen it before; two children on the Radwagon with a rear-wheel drive motor, going uphill in Brussels. It was slow going and required a lot of extra pedaling.

Front-wheel drive would not be suitable for a good electric longtail bike. Especially because the weight is at the back and the front can come off the ground.

Summarized

The choice of motor strongly depends on the type of bike:

• Front-wheel drive may be suitable for city bikes or electric folding bikes, mainly due to their low weight and limited speed.
• For sporty bikes like speed pedelecs, electric road bikes, or sporty electric bikes, rear-wheel drive is a good choice, and mid-drive motors are also suitable.
• For electric mountain bikes, it’s best to choose a mid-drive motor.
• For anything requiring significant power or constant power supply, such as steep mountains or cargo transportation, a mid-drive motor is the best option.

The key is to find the motor that offers the best riding comfort, highest safety, and control while riding.