What Actually is an E-bike?

Electric bicycles – or E-bikes – have been around for quite a long time. They were widely available in the early nineties, which is just before the lithium-ion battery revolution which, ultimately, made the electric car possible. This fact is a clue to why e-bikes are a commonly misunderstood product. Electric bikes are those which assist the cyclist in pedaling – they are not electric motorcycles or mopeds. 

Because they are bikes which are, at least in part, powered by electricity, it is easy to see how they could be easily confused with mopeds; perhaps this is the reason for the confusion. An e-bike is in fact any bicycle that has an electric motor but which you can still pedal. To put it another way, if it can go when the motor is switched off, it is an e-bike. If it cannot, then you have a moped or electric motorcycle on your hands.

These latter vehicles, today powered by the kinds of batteries which have made everything from Tesla’s EVs to the AA rechargeable smart batteries from Pale Blue Earth possible, are offering a big challenge to the humble E-bike. However, this fairly old technology still offers a few benefits that you cannot get from any other kind of two-wheeled craft. 

The Two Types of E-bikes

E-bikes can be fundamentally split into two different kinds, e-bikes which only assist the rider as they pedal and bikes which can actually move with no pedal power being applied. In the latter case, the bike is effectively functioning just like a moped – with the electric motor providing the throttle – but, again, the fact that it can still be pedaled when the motor is off distinguishes it. 

Within these two broad and fundamental categories, many kinds of e-bikes exist, often tailored for use in a specific context. There are e-bikes for offroad terrain, for city streets, and so on. E-bikes have proven to have a remarkable staying power and they certainly have their devotees. 

Facts About E-bikes 

So, if you are thinking of purchasing an E-bike, here are some further facts about E-bikes which should help inform your decision. 

They Make Pedaling Easier 

Both kinds of e-bikes are designed to make pedaling easier. When pedaling either kind, the electric motor is there to add its power to yours and help turn the wheels. The advantage of this is that e-bikes still offer you the chance to reap the health benefits of cycling while also making it much easier to go up that ridiculously steep hill. 

They Have a Speed Limit

Or, at least, the electric motor does. With the pedal-assist motor running, your pedaling will dictate the speed and the motor will add to it. At around 20 to 28mph (depending on the bike), however, the motor will cut out. Then you are left with your leg power.

You Will Ride More 

Even if you’re remarkably fit, there will come a point when remounting your bike will come as a chore. However, with an e-bike, this point simply never arrives. 

There is an E-version of Every Kind of Bike 

There are many kinds of bikes out there – from road bikes to mountain bikes and the more weird and wonderful like cargo bikes and child carrier bikes. Fitting an electric motor to a bike is not rocket science, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that there’s an electric version of almost every kind of bike you can think of. 

There is something about e-bikes that stops them ever achieving iconic status or fame, but they persist because they are useful – and they seem set to persist for some time yet.