Electric Bicycle Information and Resources
This is currently plenty of good Electric Bike information available online although sometimes it can be hard to find just a summary without a lot of information that you do not need or without a lot of annoying ads. My intent here is just to give you an overall E-Bike summary and I hope you find this page useful.
In general, E-Bikes are Pedal Assist BIkes. Most models require pedaling to engage motor although some exceptions allow motor drive without pedaling and some have throttles on the handlebars.
E-Bike Classes
At this time, Electric Bikes fall into the following categories:
- Class 1 - Power only when pedaling and motor kicks off at 20mph
- Class 2 - Pedaling is optional, but motor also kicks off at 20mph
- Class 3 - Requires pedaling and motor kicks off at 28mph
All classes are limited to a maximum of 1 horsepower and/or 750W.
* At this time most, but not all states in the U.S. use these cleassifications.
General Information:
You still get exercise because you still need to pedal!
You can also ride E-Bikes without power but course the bikes are much heavier than a regular bike so you will most likely use the motor assist most of the time. It is nice to know though that if your battery is getting weak or dies completely, you still have a way to get back.
In general, at this time, Battery Charging time can be 3-5 hours. Batteries can last from 35 to 100 miles.Of course, rechargeable battery technology is improving all the time so...
You can also control how much of an assist you get. Most E-bikes come with a power switch that lets you adjust the boost setting from “eco” (low) to “turbo” (high), for when you want a little more help or speed.
The torque sensor pedal assist systems measure the amount of power you are putting into the pedals and it will increase or decrease the electric assist based on your pedaling power.
Mid-drive motor or Hub-drive - From my research, it looks like mid-drive systems are more popular but I believe that it is a subtle difference and you should really try out both kinds yourself to make your decision if that is possible.
E-Bike, Electric BIke - Bike Types
There are E-Bikes in just about every bike type category and for almost any riding styles. There are Electric: Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes, Comfort BIkes, Hybrid Combinations, Commuting BIkes, Touring Bikes, etc. There are also Recumbent e-bikes, Tandem Bikes and Trikes too.
E-Bike Costs
You can expect to pay around $1,500 for a decent e-bike. Higher quality E-Bikes can cost around $2,500 to $5,000 (and up).
Laws for E-Bikes
You will need to check the local laws where you live or where you plan to ride since there are many different local laws for E-Bikes.
In general, however, aside from E-Bike definition and restrictions on the bike itself - They can be used pretty much anywhere a bike can including bike paths unless local laws prohibit them.
Note: E-Bikes are not the same as e-motorcycles. That is an entirely different class of vehicle.
Electric Bicycle Online Suppliers
See our Electric Bicycles Online Stores - for a selection of websites that are currently selling E-Bikes online.
Electric Bike Reviews
- Cannondale Canvas Neo2 - For a sleek looking, mid motor e-bike see the Cannondale Canvas series bikes.
- Electra Townie Go! - For a high quality, comfortable and practical E-Bike at a very reasonable price..