The Best Mid-Drive Electric Bike for 2022

When it comes to buying electric bicycles, there are a lot of choices to make. From the color to the style and size, there are a number of factors that can impact just how well your bike fits you and your lifestyle. One of the most important ones, however, is something many people don’t think about—the bike’s motor. 

Why the Motor Matters 

The motor is the heart of an e-bike. It’s what differentiates electric bikes from traditional bikes. While you get all the flexibility and active energy of a regular ride, motor-powered pedal assist means you can choose how hard you want to pedal at any given time. In some cases, you can even choose not to pedal at all and coast your way to your destination. 

You can get in a great workout when you’re feeling invigorated, or say to hell with hills and let the motor do the work when you want to relax and embrace the moments along the way. It’s your ride, your way—as easy or vigorously as you want to go. Ultimately, a motor means more flexibility in the way you ride, making biking more about enjoying the ride and less of a mandatory test of endurance. 

All electric bike motors aren’t the same, however. They generally fall into two main categories—mid-drive motors and hub-drive motors. 

So, which makes for the best e-bike motor? That depends on where you want to go and how you want to get there. 

Electric Bike Mid-Drive Motors vs. Hub-Drive Motors: What’s the difference? 

The biggest difference between electric bike mid-drive motors and hub-drive motors is where on the bike they’re located. Hub-drive motors are located in the center of the bike’s front or rear wheel, while mid-drive motors live in the center of the bike, concealed within the bottom bracket. This difference in location impacts the feel and performance of an electric bike.   

In general, hub-drive motors tend to be less complicated and less expensive than mid-drive motors. They’re great for handling city street sand everyday commutes and can cover lots of miles at higher speeds.  Both our City and Comfort bikes are equipped with hub motors. 

A mid-drive motor, on the other hand, provides a ride that feels the most like a traditional bike along with amped up power and performance. Our Charge XC, for example, features a powerful mid-drive motor that makes it perfect for off-road challenges. Like a mountain bike, it has the torque and power necessary to tackle tough terrain like sand, gravel and dirt.

The Charge XC’s mid-drive motor is powered by a Shimano E8035 504WH integrated battery, which is both lockable and removable, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your bike to a power outlet, just the battery. While the required charging time depends on how much power is left, in general, the XC reaches 80 percent capacity in about 2.5 hours and takes about 5 hours to fully charge. 

Once you’re charged, you’re ready to go. How far and fast you can go depends on things like how much pedal assist you use, the rider’s weight and the kind of terrain you’re covering, but, in general, you can go up to 20 mph and cover about 50 miles. A built-in indicator lets you know how many miles you have left at all times, so you don’t have to worry about running out of power mid-ride.

About the Charge XC Mid-Drive Electric Bike 

As powerful and adventure-ready as it may be, the Charge XC—like all our bikes—is also built for comfort, ease and enjoyment—the best of all worlds for those who want a little extra action in their lives but aren’t chasing any extreme dreams. It comes with a stellar lineup of standard, high-quality features that make it comfortable, easy and fun to ride. 

For example, the front suspension fork helps even out the rough stuff, and the seat and grips are designed to make sure your ride is as smooth as possible. It comes in two sizes, so you can get just the right fit—small, designed for those 5’0”--5’9”, and large for those 5’9”-6’4”. 

It’s also equipped with quality components like folding handlebars and pedals to save space and integrated front and rear lights and reflective tires provide better visibility in all light conditions. An integrated rear rack means you can haul your gear, groceries or whatever else you need to get through the day. 

Bottom line: If you’re looking for the best mid-drive electric bike in 2022, take a look at the Charge XC. We think you’ll like what you find. Want to make sure? You can try out any of our electric bikes before you make a decision. Schedule a test ride today and see for yourself what a difference a motor makes.