How much torque do I need for hills?

Depends on your hills. Flat or gentle (≤5%): 30–40 N·m is fine. Moderate urban hills (8–10%): you want 50–60 N·m. Steep daily climbs (12%+): aim for 60+ N·m on a mid-drive. The Stoke E3 ships with 60 N·m on a mid-drive setup — covers the moderate-to-steep range that most US riders encounter.

Why does mid-drive climb better than hub motor at the same torque?

Because mid-drive routes torque through your bike's gears. A 60 N·m mid-drive in low gear effectively multiplies that torque at the rear wheel — same way a car uses lower gears for hills. A hub motor pushes the wheel directly, so 60 N·m is what you actually get at the wheel, no gear advantage. This is also why mid-drive motors stay efficient on grades: they keep operating in their efficient RPM range while gears handle speed.

What's a torque sensor vs a cadence sensor?

A torque sensor measures how hard you're pushing the pedals and amplifies that effort proportionally. The harder you pedal, the more motor help. A cadence sensor only measures whether you're pedaling at all — it kicks in a fixed amount of motor assist regardless of effort. Torque sensors feel natural and athletic; cadence sensors feel binary (motor on / motor off). Mid-drives more often use torque sensors; cheaper hub motors use cadence sensors.

Can the Stoke E3 actually climb steep hills?

Yes — within spec. The E3's 60 N·m mid-drive is manufacturer-rated for slopes up to 30°. In real-world riding, that translates to confident climbing on grades up to ~15% with lowest gear and pedal assist. Sustained climbs beyond 20% generate heat — slow down or pause if motor gets warm. Real rider feedback: "The mid-drive feels noticeably better on the overpasses than the hub-motor bike I had before." — Ryan M., Phoenix. See E3 specs →

E-Bike Education

Torque, hills,
and what
N·m really means.

Q: Is torque or wattage more important for an e-bike?

For hill climbing and acceleration, torque (N·m) matters more than wattage (W). Watts measure peak power output; torque measures rotational force at the motor or wheel. A 250W mid-drive with 60 N·m climbs hills better than a 750W hub motor with 40 N·m. Wattage is what manufacturers love to advertise; torque is what actually moves you uphill. Full mid-drive vs hub motor comparison →

Manufacturers love wattage. But torque is what gets you up the hill. Here's how the numbers translate to real grades, and how much you actually need for your ride.

By Jojo Yang · Product Lead, Stoke Bike·Updated 2026-05-02·8 min read

// Quick answer

Torque (measured in N·m) controls hill-climbing power, not wattage. 30-40 N·m handles flats. 50-60 N·m climbs moderate urban hills. 70+ N·m is for steep grades or loaded riding. The Stoke E3 has 60 N·m—the sweet spot for typical US commuter terrain.

// What torque does

Torque = rotational force at the motor or wheel. More N·m = more grunt for accelerating, climbing, or starting from a stop.

// Mid-drive advantage

Mid-drive routes torque through your gears — 60 N·m at the motor becomes much more at the wheel in low gear.

Every grade you might actually encounter, and how the E3's 60 N·m mid-drive handles it.

Slope	Where you'll find it	E3 (60 N·m mid-drive)	Note
Flat / 0%	Typical bike path, urban streets	Excellent · throttle alone holds 20 mph	Any e-bike handles this fine.
Gentle / 3–5%	Most American cities · highway overpasses · gentle bridges	Comfortable · pedal assist or throttle, both work	40 N·m hub motors start to feel slow here.
Moderate / 8–10%	San Francisco neighborhood streets · suburban hill towns	Strong · 60 N·m + low gear lets you climb without sweating	Hub motor riders shift to walking or push pedaling hard.
Steep / 12–15%	SF Lombard-like · Pittsburgh hill neighborhoods	Capable · still within spec, use lowest gear + pedal assist	Most $999 hub motors fail or overheat here.
Very steep / 20–25%	Driveways · short connectors · service roads	Edge of spec · use lowest gear + steady cadence; not for sustained climbs	Manufacturer rating tops out at 30°. Sustained climbs beyond ~20% generate heat — slow down or pause if motor warm.

E3 spec: 500W rated, 60 N·m torque, manufacturer-rated for grades up to 30° on hardened pavement. Real-world climb capability also depends on rider weight, payload, gear selection, and battery level.

03 · Torque sensor vs cadence sensor

How the motor
decides to help.

// Better

Torque sensor

Measures how hard you push the pedals, amplifies proportionally. The harder you pedal, the more motor help you get.

— Feels natural, athletic
— Smooth power delivery
— Responds to gradient and rider effort
— Common on mid-drives

// Cheaper, less responsive

Cadence sensor

Detects whether you're pedaling — yes or no — and applies a fixed assist level. Doesn't care how hard you push.

— Feels binary (on / off)
— Cheaper to manufacture
— Common on entry hub-motor e-bikes
— Lag when you start pedaling, surge when motor catches up

05 · Q&A

Torque questions, answered.

For hill climbing and acceleration, torque (N·m) matters more than wattage (W). Watts measure peak power output; torque measures rotational force at the motor or wheel. A 250W mid-drive with 60 N·m climbs hills better than a 750W hub motor with 40 N·m. Wattage is what manufacturers love to advertise; torque is what actually moves you uphill. Full mid-drive vs hub motor comparison →