In one of our earlier posts, we discussed batteries and how the development of microprocessors has been essential for creating modern electric vehicles. A reader commented on that post, asking something along the lines of, “Is it true that thanks to electronics, your battery can last more than eight years?” The answer is yes. It really can. The lifespan of a battery depends heavily on its charge/discharge cycles, the speed and intensity of those cycles, and the power required at any given moment. Not only is the overall battery monitored, but each individual cell within the battery is checked too. The condition of these cells, their level of “fatigue,” is compared against each other. The information gathered every second isn’t just logged; it’s processed, and based on that processing, an optimal mode is selected for each specific scenario. For instance, whether you’re charging your electric bike, accelerating at a traffic light, overtaking another vehicle, or taking a leisurely ride through the park.

Let’s say you speed up at a traffic light, hit the brakes at a crossroads, take a winding path into the park, and suddenly slow down because a squirrel darts across the road. Your movements follow an unpredictable pattern, requiring immediate responses. Imagine if you twisted the throttle at a stoplight and nothing happened—your e-bike “lagged” for a few seconds before slowly starting to rev up. Terrible, right? All these actions are programmed and processed instantly in real-time. Can you even begin to fathom the sheer volume of data and variables involved? Things get even more complex with electric motors. Adjusting the rotational speed and torque involves manipulating the electromagnetic field in its windings. This means that to control an electric motor in transportation, we need yet another controller. Historically, electric motors were used for straightforward tasks like lifting loads. We knew the weight of the load and the height it needed to reach. The algorithm was simple and could be executed without electronics since the load's weight didn’t fluctuate significantly, and the speed could remain constant. It’s unlikely anyone would want to rapidly accelerate the ascent of bricks up a building. Electric transport, however, presents constantly changing scenarios that demand far more sophisticated and rapid motor control.

Now we see that our electric bike has a “smart” battery that communicates with a similarly “intelligent” motor controller. At some level, they must “understand” each other, exchange information, draw conclusions, and make decisions. The higher the level of this “communication,” the greater the range and the longer the lifespan of both the battery and the motor. But that’s not all. To get moving, you need either a throttle or a PAS (Pedal Assist System). How do you determine how quickly you want to start moving—smoothly or so fast that your tires smoke? Remember the squirrel example? Well, your bike should instantly detect this and signal the battery to deliver the necessary voltage to the motor while ensuring the motor doesn’t overheat, preventing the battery from being damaged. Thus, an electric bike’s block diagram might look something like this:

It’s critical to understand that viewing an e-bike as just a regular bike with an electric motor attached is fundamentally incorrect. While an electric bike performs similar functions to a traditional bicycle, the difference is akin to comparing a potter’s wheel to a 3D printer. Both can create nice saucers, but a 3D printer can handle much more complex tasks. Notice there are no pedals in the electric bike’s block diagram. This is a key distinction. A regular bike moves via human muscle power, whereas an electric bike relies on energy stored in its battery, which is automatically controlled and distributed by a processor. Of course, a cyclist on an electric bike can pedal the entire way, maintaining the same rhythm and effort. Whether riding on flat terrain or climbing a hill, the rider expends the same, precisely defined effort. The motor quietly (if it’s a good bike) kicks in to provide assistance. This is the same system as in your smartphone or laptop—a “smart” electronic device, just on wheels. This means that any task a smartphone can perform can theoretically be implemented on electric bikes, provided it makes sense. Sensors and modules connect through a bus, allowing for the integration of any additional functionalities. So:

Why is it important (or even possible) to have an electric bike with built-in GPS, anti-theft systems, and other features?

Because all the systems of a modern electric bike can—and, in the future, should—function as modules of a single, unified system under centralized control. For example, a GPS module can calculate a route and inform the central processor about the optimal speed to ensure you have enough battery for the entire trip. If the battery charge is low, the GPS can suggest nearby charging stations and estimate how long it will take to reach them. We can also determine the bike’s route and location, linking this data with the anti-theft system. The anti-theft system can then be integrated with the user identification system, making your gadget truly personalized. Features like a media center, radio station, temperature sensors, micro-radar for distance monitoring, cameras, and a communication module can all function as a cohesive unit today. Tesla has shown what’s possible, and it’s feasible to implement similar features on any electric bike, given sufficient funding. But the main point is that electric bikes, like all electric vehicles, are already becoming part of the modern world, easily integrating into it and offering limitless potential for growth and innovation. And now we can answer the question:

Why is Delfast an electric bike for professional use?

But that’s a topic for our next post.