In a nutshell: on a 1,200 Wh battery, most riders get somewhere between 30 and 56 miles from a single charge. Where you land in that range comes down to how you ride – pedalling along takes you a lot further than sitting on the throttle. Below, we break down the real 1,200 Wh battery range, what eats into it and how to squeeze out more miles.
We’re using the Shengmilo S600 PRO as our example, because its new 48V 25Ah battery holds exactly 1,200 Wh.
What does 1,200 Wh actually mean?
Wh stands for watt-hours – a measure of how much energy the battery holds. Think of it like the size of a fuel tank: the bigger the number, the further you can go.
You can work it out yourself: volts × amp-hours = watt-hours. For the S600 PRO, that’s 48V × 25Ah = 1,200 Wh.
To put that in context, a lot of e-bikes in high-street shops have batteries of 500–700 Wh, so 1,200 Wh is roughly double. The original S600 had 840 Wh, which means the S600 PRO carries 43% more.
Real 1,200 Wh battery range by riding style
Every e-bike uses a certain amount of energy per mile. Divide 1,200 Wh by that figure and you’ve got your range. Here are typical numbers for a powerful fat tyre e-bike:
| How you ride | Typical use per mile | Rough range |
|---|---|---|
| Low pedal assist, flat ground | 21–24 Wh | 50–56 miles |
| Medium pedal assist, mixed ground | 24–30 Wh | 40–50 miles |
| Throttle only, no pedalling | 32–40 Wh | 30–37 miles |
| Steep hills or heavy load, throttle only | 48 Wh or more | 25 miles or less |
These are estimates, not guarantees – your own figures will depend on your weight, the weather and the ground you ride on. They line up with the manufacturer’s figures for the S600 PRO: up to 37 miles on the throttle alone and up to 56 miles with pedal assist.
What drains an e-bike battery faster?
Lots of things affect your 1,200 Wh battery range. Some are down to you; some aren’t.
Riding on the throttle alone
If you don’t pedal, the motors do all the work. Lovely and relaxing – but it uses the most energy.
Hills
Going uphill takes far more power than riding on the flat. A hilly 20-mile ride can use as much battery as 30 miles on level ground.
Total weight
A heavier rider, a loaded rucksack or tools on the rack all add to the energy you use. As a rule of thumb, every extra stone or so knocks a few per cent off your range. Bigger riders will find more advice in our guide to the best electric bike for heavy riders.
Cold weather
Lithium-ion batteries give out less energy in the cold. On a frosty British morning around 0°C, expect roughly 20–30% less range than on a summer’s day.
Soft tyres
Under-inflated tyres drag. Fat tyres feel lovely at low pressure, but that comfort costs you miles on hard ground.
Wind and speed
Air resistance climbs quickly as you go faster. Easing off a little – especially into a headwind – saves a surprising amount of battery.
7 ways to get more miles from your battery
- Pedal along, even gently. Light pedalling on a low assist level is the single best way to stretch your range.
- Start on a low assist level. The S600 PRO has five (PAS 1–5). Save the higher ones for hills and headwinds.
- Use your gears. The Shimano 7-speed gears help the motors work efficiently – change down before a climb, not halfway up it.
- Check your tyre pressure every week. Run it higher on hard ground and lower on sand, mud or snow.
- Pull away smoothly. Full power from a standstill uses far more energy than easing into it.
- Keep the battery warm in winter. Store and charge it indoors, and only fit it just before you set off.
- Take the charger on long days out. An hour’s break for a cuppa adds useful miles.
How to look after a 1,200 Wh battery
Treat a battery well and it’ll last for years. The S600 PRO battery is rated for more than 1,500 charges and keeps at least 80% of its capacity after 18 months. These habits make the biggest difference:
- Charge at room temperature – never straight after a ride in freezing weather, and not in a cold shed or garage.
- Don’t run it right down to empty. Top it up when it gets to around 20%.
- Store it at 40–60% charge if you won’t ride for a few weeks – over the winter, for example.
- Keep it dry and out of direct sunlight when you’re not using it.
- Allow time to charge. A full charge takes around 7–8 hours with the charger supplied, so overnight is ideal.
Your battery is covered by our warranty against manufacturing faults, on top of your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Is a 1,200 Wh battery worth it?
For most riders, yes. A bigger battery gets rid of range anxiety – the number one worry people have before buying an e-bike. You can ride further, use more power on the hills and charge less often.
The Shengmilo S600 PRO pairs a 1,200 Wh battery with two 1000W motors, full suspension and fat tyres for £1,349, with free delivery from our UK warehouse in 4–8 working days. Want even more range? Have a look at our S600 PRO vs S900 PRO guide – the S900 PRO carries a 2,100 Wh battery.
Shengmilo bikes are for private land only in Great Britain. See the GOV.UK electric bike rules.
