Why more watt-hours don’t automatically mean more freedom.
Published by Radical Life Studios / MTB Report
A few years ago, a 720 Wh battery was top of the line.
Today it’s considered entry-level.
Brands are racing for bigger numbers: 800, 850, 900 Wh – and marketing promises endless freedom. But the truth is: range isn’t just about capacity. It’s about efficiency, balance and how you ride.
The Power Race
Shimano, Bosch, Brose, TQ – everyone wants the longest-lasting system.
But every extra cell adds weight, shifts the center of gravity and dulls the ride.
A 900 Wh e-MTB can easily weigh over 25 kg – and you feel every gram when the trail gets technical.
Sure, “200 km range” sounds great. But how many riders actually need it?
More Power, Less Soul
The bike industry now sells watt-hours like horsepower. But at some point, it stops making sense.
A trail isn’t a racetrack – it’s about flow, not torque.
Many experienced riders say a lighter 720 Wh setup feels more natural and agile.
Yet those voices are drowned out by marketing noise.
The Real Story About Range
Range isn’t an absolute number – it depends on rider weight, terrain, mode and temperature.
An 85 kg rider climbing alpine terrain often gets less out of a 900 Wh battery than a 65 kg rider cruising flow trails with 720 Wh.
In other words: watt-hours don’t define adventure – you do.
Efficiency Over Excess
The future isn’t about bigger batteries – it’s about smarter systems.
Intelligent power management, adaptive motor control, real-time efficiency analytics – these innovations can deliver more joy per watt.
Maybe 2026 will be the year we stop chasing capacity and start chasing connection.
The battery war shows how easily the industry can lose itself in numbers.
More watt-hours don’t mean more freedom.
Freedom is feeling the trail – not the weight.
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