Electric bikes are soaring in popularity for a whole host of reasons. They provide a comfortable way to exercise while taking in beautiful vistas. You can use them to get to work without worrying about arriving tired and sweaty. They are also great for the environment.

But e-bikes would still struggle for popularity if it weren’t for one other factor: their price. A standard e-bike can cost less than $1,000, and even the best e-bikes are relatively affordable. Furthermore, if you’re using one in place of a car or gas-powered motorbike, you save a ton on gas. Charging your e-bike will cost only a dollar on your electricity bill for 300 to 400 miles of use.

However, as any hobbyist knows, the basic costs are not the be-all-and-end-all. There are always unexpected extras to pay for that can make the cheapest options look a little less attractive.

What are the unexpected e-bike costs? Do they counteract the savings?

Extra Chargers

One of the first things you will want to invest in is at least one extra charger. While you will charge your bike whenever you are at home, you can still find yourself in a sticky situation in which your bike is running low. Having an extra charger in your backpack at all times helps. It can also be worthwhile to have an extra charger at work, or at the destination, you most commonly ride to on your e-bike.

An extra charger may cost between $20 and $30, which is not a huge expense, especially as you save far more than that on gas each month. If your e-bike has a removable battery, consider getting a spare in case of emergency.

Bike Rack

To make sure your e-bike remains in the best possible shape, you’ll want to store it safely, with no chance of it falling over. A good bike rack is a necessity, and you may want an extra rack for the place you most commonly take your bike. When you have it away from home, you’ll also want a lock to ensure that no one steals your precious e-bike.

These components are not too expensive. On the cheap side, you’ll pay around $45, but it can go up to as much as $150. Considering that these are once-off purchases that seldom need replacing or upgrades, this is a worthwhile investment.

Protective Gear

Some of the extra expenses have nothing to do with the bike itself. Rather, you need to invest in protective gear for yourself. No one plans on getting into accidents, but they are unfortunately not always avoidable. If you do crash on the road, you can incur major injuries to your head and the rest of your body. As such, you need a good helmet and elbow pads at least. For night rides, you should have reflective gear.

A good e-bike helmet will cost around $100. Elbow pads and reflective gear are not going to hike the price too much.

All in all, if you go for all the added components necessary for an e-bike with prices on the high end, you will still pay no more than $300 in one-off costs. They do not come close to making the e-bike a bad investment.

However, there is one more cost we need to consider.

e-Bike Insurance

Your e-bike is not covered by most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies. As such, it is not easy to get insurance cover for your e-bike. Fortunately, some insurance companies do specifically include e-bikes. You can also add your e-bike as an extra under ‘scheduled personal property’ or for Extra Coverage. While e-bikes will be covered in case of theft regardless, you need Extra Coverage to account for other perils like accidents.

The cost of the added coverage on your insurance policy will depend on which state you’re in and the type of insurance you already have. However, it will not be so much that it weighs down your premiums significantly.

e-Bikes are cost-effective forms of transport. They save you money on monthly installments on a motor vehicle as well as on gas. While there are some extra costs to consider, they can come to as little as $100 and should not be much more than $300.