If you are buying a new electric vehicle, you may be looking to compare electric bike batteries like 36v 12ah vs 48v 9ah. The best electric bikes tend to include powerful and long-lasting lithium battery packs. The differences here are two-fold, as these battery types feature both different voltages and amp hours. What does this mean? It’s fairly simple to break down. A battery pack’s voltage essentially dictates how fast it can go as it sends energy to the motor.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Generally speaking, a battery pack’s voltage determines the maximum speed the motor will travel, and a battery pack’s ampere-hours (amp hours or ah) dictates the maximum range.
- With that said, a 36v 12ah battery will outperform a 48v 9ah battery when it comes to the range but underperform when it comes to speed.
- Many other factors can impact both speed and range, however, so take that into consideration.
This can be handy information when comparing electric bike conversion kits with brushed motors vs brushless motors.
Insider Tip
It is a good practice to check both the voltage and ampere-hours of any lithium battery pack you are considering purchasing.
Amp-hours, on the other hand, essentially dictate the battery life or range of the electric bike. So, the higher your amp hours, the longer the battery will be able to operate without needing a recharge. This will be true even if you are riding on perilous terrains, such as the case when comparing an e-bike vs a mountain bike. And if you are going to be riding off-road a lot, you may want to compare the differences in e-bike hardtail vs full suspension before you make a purchase to see which offers you the smoothest ride.
Maximum Speed
When it comes to maximum speed, a 48v 9ah battery should easily claim victory over a 36v 12ah electric bike battery. Remember, voltage essentially translates to speed, so all 48v batteries should allow for faster speeds than 36-volt batteries. This may vary slightly depending on the make and model of both your battery and bike motor, so check the specs ahead of time before making a purchase. Additionally, if you are interested in which type of motor offers the fastest speeds, check out our resource on direct drive vs geared motor electric bikes.
STAT: A typical e-bike requires 8 hours to charge the battery, which provides a range of 25 to 30 miles (40 to 48 km) at the speed of around 20 km/h. (source)
Range and Battery Life
As for maximum range overall battery life, a 36v 12ah electric bike battery will allow for a longer range than a 48v 9ah battery. Remember, amp-hours (ah) translate to the overall efficiency of the integrated lithium-ion battery pack. With that said, any 12ah battery should outperform any 9ah battery when it comes to range. This may not always be true, depending on the overall design of your e-bike, but in most cases, it will be. In other words, check the specs to make sure the max range is on point. Some external factors can also impact the range, including the rider’s weight, the terrain traversed over, and any kind of headwind you are encountering. Now that you know the differences between these types of batteries check out the top batteries for electric bikes to help you choose your new battery.
