E-Bike Range Reality Index

It is a model-by-model table that converts the advertised range claim of every e-bike covered on this site into a realistic range band, alongside each model's battery watt-hours, broad price band, and value tier. Manufacturer range claims are measured at the lowest assist level with a light rider on flat ground in mild weather; the Index applies an editorial 50-65% realistic-range heuristic to each claim, cross-checked against battery physics (watt-hours divided by 15-25 Wh per mile), so two bikes can be compared on honest numbers instead of marketing miles.

It is our editorial method, stated openly: we set the band at 50-65% of the manufacturer claim because independent range testing and rider reporting consistently place real-world results in the 50-70% region of advertised figures for mixed riding at moderate assist — for example, Electric Bike Report's Aventon Aventure test logged 24.3 miles at maximum assist against 53.7 at minimum, about 45% from assist level alone. We use the lower half of that region because Amazon-tier bikes are throttle-heavy in practice. When a manufacturer claim is unusually optimistic relative to the battery's watt-hours, the watt-hour math is the number to trust.

Because watt-hours are physics and claims are marketing. Two bikes in this Index illustrate it: the Jasion Thunder PRO claims 90 miles from 1040Wh while the ADDMOTOR M-81 claims 75 miles from 960Wh — the smaller battery claims more miles per watt-hour. Dividing watt-hours by a real consumption rate of 15-25 Wh per mile produces bands that are directly comparable across brands, which is why the Index reports both lenses and flags models where they disagree.

A broad tier — Exceptional, Strong, Moderate, or Premium-priced — comparing each model's battery watt-hours against its broad price band. We use tiers rather than computed dollar figures because we do not publish exact Amazon prices (prices change constantly and Associates policy restricts quoting them). The tier answers the practical question: for the band this bike sells in, is its battery unusually large, about right, or something you are paying a premium beyond?

Cite it as: "ebikeriderlab Range Reality Index, retrieved August 2026" with the URL ebikeriderlab.com/range-reality-index. The Index carries a version number (currently v2.0) and a last-updated date; figures are corrected by updating the row and bumping the version rather than silently editing. The normalized battery-and-consumption reference data behind the methodology lives in our companion Range Truth Index, which also offers a CSV download.

Because the claim is a best-case laboratory ceiling: lowest pedal-assist level, flat closed-course pavement, a light test rider, no wind, mild temperature. Change any input — throttle use, hills, a heavier rider, stop-and-go traffic, cold weather (a temporary 15-30% capacity loss in typical winter commuting), under-inflated tires — and consumption rises. Stack several, as normal riding does, and 50-65% of the claim is the honest expectation, not the pessimistic one.