Answered Which option is easier on the battery?

[Beekeeper]

Assuming I’m travelling at 10mph.
All things being equal which option below would give me better battery range?

A) higher cadence in a low gear (10mph)
B) lower cadence in a higher gear (10mph)
C) there is no difference

 

[steve_sordy]

In "A" you will be putting less torque into the motor, therefore you will get less out.

But power = torque x revs (provided you use the correct units), and energy = power x time (units again) so in theory it should make no difference. But it seems to do so in practice. The unknown of course is how much power YOU are supplying.

 

[GrahamPaul]

In "A" you will be putting less torque into the motor, therefore you will get less out.

But power = torque x revs (provided you use the correct units), and energy = power x time (units again) so in theory it should make no difference. But it seems to do so in practice. The unknown of course is how much power YOU are supplying.

For the majority of EMTB motors on the market, I don't think the torque "curve" is flat. So it probably depends on which motor manufacturer and which version of their software as well.

 

[Doomanic]

You forgot
D) Motor off...

There is a window where the motor is operating at optimum efficiency and it's not necessarily the same for all brands. On the Bosch it's about 80-90RPM.

 

[Mikerb]

higher cadence in a lower gear. It also puts less strain on the drivetrain.