Electric Bike Basics: How They Work And Who's Riding

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are bicycles with an integrated electric motor and battery to assist with propulsion. They are designed to look like non-electric bikes but have the added benefit of a motor that senses when you're pedalling and gives you a boost to propel the bike forward, making pedalling easier. E-bikes are available in a variety of styles, including cargo bikes, commuting bikes, mountain bikes, and folding bikes. They are typically motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph), with high-powered varieties able to travel up to or more than 45 km/h (28 mph).

Electric bikes have a built-in motor and battery to assist your pedalling

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are bicycles with an integrated electric motor and battery to assist your pedalling. They look very similar to non-electric bikes but are equipped with a battery and a small electric motor to assist you in pedalling faster and farther. The motor senses when you're pedalling and gives you a boost to propel the bike forward, making pedalling easier. Many e-bikes have several levels (or modes) of assistance that allow you to adjust the amount of boost you get. Some electric bikes provide a boost only when you pedal, while others have a throttle button that will assist you even when you're not pedalling.

E-bikes are available in a variety of styles, including cargo bikes, commuting bikes, mountain bikes, and folding bikes. They are also categorised into three main classes, which often determine where you can ride them. Most bike manufacturers and state, local and other entities have adopted this system, which defines e-bikes as a low-speed bicycle with fully operational pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.

There are two broad categories of e-bikes: bikes that assist the rider's pedal-power (i.e. pedelecs) and bikes that add a throttle, integrating moped-style functionality. Both retain the ability to be pedalled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles. E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and typically are motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph). High-powered varieties can often travel up to or more than 45 km/h (28 mph).

They are available in a variety of styles, including cargo bikes, commuting bikes, mountain bikes, folding bikes and more

An electric bicycle, or e-bike, is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor and battery to assist with pedalling. The motor is powered by a rechargeable battery mounted on the bike. E-bikes are available in a variety of styles, including:

• Cargo bikes
• Commuting bikes
• Mountain bikes
• Folding bikes

E-bikes are also available in other styles, and they generally fall into two broad categories: bikes that assist the rider's pedal-power (pedelecs) and bikes that add a throttle, integrating moped-style functionality. Both types retain the ability to be pedalled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles. E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and are typically motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph). High-powered varieties can often travel up to or more than 45 km/h (28 mph).

E-bikes are categorised into three main classes, which determine where you can ride them

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are a popular form of transportation that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. They are essentially bicycles that have been equipped with an electric motor that assists the rider when pedalling. E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and typically are motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph). High-powered varieties can often travel up to or more than 45 km/h (28 mph).

In the EU, motor vehicles with less than 4 wheels and some lightweight 4-wheelers fall under the L category. Light-powered vehicles fall under the L1e category, which has 2 sub-categories: L1e-B for 2-wheel mopeds, and L1e-A for electric bicycles with a maximum speed of 25 km/h and a motor output of more than 250 watts. Most electric bikes fall under the L1e-A category, with the exception of some high-powered varieties that can fall under L1e-B.

E-bikes come in a variety of styles, each designed with specific purposes and terrains in mind. From convenient folding bikes to heavy-duty cargo e-bikes, the world of e-bikes is as diverse as the riders themselves.

They use rechargeable batteries and are typically motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph)

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are bicycles with an integrated electric motor and battery to assist with propulsion. They use rechargeable batteries and are typically motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph).

There are two main types of e-bike: those that assist the rider's pedal-power (pedelecs) and those that add a throttle, integrating moped-style functionality. Both types can still be pedalled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles.

E-bikes come in a variety of styles, including cargo bikes, commuting bikes, mountain bikes, and folding bikes. They are designed to augment human power, not replace it, making obstacles like hills and headwinds more manageable and allowing you to travel further without getting as tired.

The motors on an e-bike sense when you're pedalling and give you a boost to propel the bike forward, making pedalling easier. Many e-bikes have several levels (or modes) of assistance that allow you to adjust the amount of boost you get. Some electric bikes provide a boost only when you pedal, while others have a throttle button that will assist you even when you're not pedalling.

E-bikes are typically categorised into three main classes, which determine where they can be ridden. They are defined as low-speed bicycles with fully operational pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. High-powered varieties can often travel up to or more than 45 km/h (28 mph).

The electric component is meant to augment human power, not completely replace it

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are bicycles equipped with an electric motor and battery to assist with pedalling. The electric component is meant to augment human power, not completely replace it. In other words, e-bikes are not electric motorcycles. The motor senses when you're pedalling and gives you a boost to propel the bike forward, making pedalling easier. This can be particularly useful when facing obstacles like hills and headwinds, and can help you travel further without getting as tired.

E-bikes are available in a variety of styles, including cargo bikes, commuting bikes, mountain bikes, and folding bikes. They are also offered at different levels of assistance, so you can adjust the amount of boost you get. Some electric bikes only provide a boost when you pedal, while others have a throttle button that will assist you even when you're not pedalling.

E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and are typically motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph). High-powered varieties can often travel up to or more than 45 km/h (28 mph). They are generally categorised into two types: bikes that assist the rider's pedal-power (i.e. pedelecs) and bikes that add a throttle, integrating moped-style functionality.

Frequently asked questions