Our range test is a method of evaluating battery performance, but also allows us to get an idea of the efficiency of a bike’s motor/battery pairing. In addition, we receive a series of real distance measurements that we can compare with the manufacturer’s information. We briefly describe how we carry out this test in the graphic above.
Previously, I expressed our skepticism about Himiway’s claims that the Cobra Pro could travel 60-80 miles on a single charge. That was largely due to the bike’s 1000W motor (which we assumed was a power-hungry beast), its significant weight (an 88-pound frame is not uncommon, but it’s still a lot of bike, that the motor can move, in addition to a driver) and the fact that it uses the same battery as the standard Cobra – a fully integrated 48V 20Ah (or 960Wh) battery with Samsung/LG cells.
Regarding Himiway’s advertised range, I was pleased to learn that they conducted their own range test on the Cobra Pro under thoroughly documented conditions. According to our contact, the test was carried out on a flat road, with light wind, a temperature of around 30°C, a driver weighing around 50kg and a speed of around 24km/h.
In our testing, the Cobra Pro managed to live up to Himiway’s claims, although there are some caveats to consider based on our data. Taking into account the motorcycle’s two modes, we conducted range tests at the two extreme ends of the spectrum – with maximum assistance in Sport mode / PAS 5 and with minimum assistance in Eco mode / PAS 1. These tests were also carried out primarily on asphalt multi-way routes. Use paths with a speed limit of 20 miles per hour. Therefore, we have reduced the Cobra Pro’s top speed to comply with this regulation. The range data may have been different in the bike’s default settings. Again, with its 1000W motor, this bike is intended for off-road use, so our testing environment will likely be different from the areas where consumers will use it.
With maximum assistance we achieved a range of about 42.5 miles and with minimum assistance we achieved just over 64 miles. That was impressive, but there are a few other considerations to take into account here.
The Cobra Pro’s battery capacity is admittedly gigantic – if you look at the previous e-bikes we’ve tested, it’s among the highest we’ve ever seen without getting into dual battery territory. It also features unique technology about which Himiway has provided some detailed technical information. Without getting lost in the weeds, just know that the cells that make up the Cobra Pro’s battery are larger in both diameter and length than standard cells, giving them a significantly higher capacity. Their chemical composition also allows them to have up to 20% higher energy density than standard cells, allowing for a smaller battery but greater capacity.
Of course, the Cobra Pro’s high-capacity battery powers the aforementioned Bafang 1000W motor. This motor is likely to do wonders in increasing the efficiency (and therefore range) of the bike, as it is a mid-drive motor and not a hub motor. Because of their positioning in the bottom bracket, mid-engines naturally share the work required to move a bike with its rider. This means that less energy has to be drawn from the battery, meaning it lasts longer – and the bike can be moved a greater distance before the battery runs out. Although the Cobra Pro’s motor is extremely powerful, it provides a more efficient connection to the battery than the standard Cobra.
This is a good time to address a feature of the Cobra Pro’s engine that likely skewed our test results somewhat. During our Sport Mode/PAS 5 range test, we noticed that engine power decreased significantly after just about 21 miles when the battery reached 25%. At this point the display only showed about 375W of engine power and climbing hills suddenly became much more difficult. Even though we felt this unusual drop, we went ahead and completed our range test. We later contacted Himiway to find out what happened.
We learned that the Bafang motor has an overheat protection feature that limits torque output when activated. This is activated when the motor overheats because it is working too hard and drawing a lot of current from the battery. The fact that the engine has this feature is excellent – it prevents the engine from heating up to the point where it becomes damaged and/or fails – even if this causes our maximum PAS distance to increase by a few miles extended.
This feature appears to encourage full use of all of the Cobra Pro’s settings to adapt to the environment. Considering how functional the bike is even in lower PAS settings on rough terrain, it seems best to leave the setting at a low to medium level most of the time. Increasing the power level to a high PAS setting only when really needed and reducing it again when not should help prevent the engine from overheating.
