What Is An Electric Bike?

Electric bikes (ebikes) use small electric motors instead of pure leg power. There are 3 classes of electric bikes: Pedal-Assist Only, Power On Demand Only, and Pedal-Assist With Power On Demand.

An electric bike, also referred to as an e-bike or EB, is a bicycle that uses electric energy to power a small electric motor. In contrast, traditional bicycles use human leg power to achieve propulsion. Electric bikes are not a recent innovation with the earliest known U.S. patent dating back to 1890. However, a recent surge has occurred in ebike development and adoption over the past 10 years due to environmental concerns, enhanced performance offered by emerging electric motor and battery technology, and increasing standardized transportation costs. With most major bicycle manufacturers currently selling one or more types of electric bikes, EBs have finally become “ready for prime-time” and are expected to comprise a major portion of the bicycle market within the next 10 years.

A Short History Of The Electric Bike

Who Makes Electric Bikes?

The following manufacturers make electric bicycles:

Aventon Bikes LogoAventon Bikes
Models: Pace, Sinch, Level
Benno Bikes LogoBenno Bikes
Models: Boost, Ejoy, Escout, Remidemi
Blix Electric BikesBlix Electric Bikes
Models: Aveny, Packa, Sol, Vika+
Cannondale LogoCannondale
Models: Canvas, Cujo, Habit, Moterra, Quick, SuperSix EVO, Synapse, Tesoro, Topstone, Treadwell
Cero Bikes LogoCero Bikes
Models: Cero 1.2
Civia Cycles LogoCivia Cycles
Models: Parkway, North Loop
Kona Bikes LogoKona
Models: Dew-E, Ecoco, El Kahuna, Libre, Remote, Splice-E
Liv Cycling LogoLiv Cycling
Models: Amiti, Embolden, Rove, Tempt, Thrive
Pivot Cycles LogoPivot Cycles
Models: Shuttle
Rad Power Bikes LogoRad Power Bikes
Models: RadCity, RadMini, RadMission, RadRover, RadRunner, RadWagon
Riese & Müller LogoRiese & Müller
Models: Charger, Delite, Homage, Load, Multicharger, Nevo, Packster, Roadster, Supercharger, Superdelite
Serial 1 LogoSerial 1 Cycle Company
Models: T.B.D.
Specialized Bikes LogoSpecialized Bikes
Models: Como, Creo, Levo, Kenevo, Vado
Tern Bicycles LogoTern Bicycles
Models: BYB, Eclipse, GSD, HSD, Link, Node, Vektron, Verge
Trek Bikes LogoTrek Bikes
Models: Allant, Cafe Moto, Domane, Ghostrider, Powerfly, Rail, Townie, Vale, Verve
Tuesday Cycles LogoTuesday Cycles
Models: August
Xtracycle LogoXtracycle
Models: eClassic, eStoker, eSwoop, RFA Sport, RFA Utility
Yuba Bikes LogoYuba Bikes
Models: Boda Boda, Electric Mundo, Electric Supermarché, Spicy Curry

Electric Bikes In The News

Tesla Solar Roof Installed In Less Than 2 Days

Tesla Solar Roof Installed In Less Than 2 Days

JIll BinocheNov 1, 2020

A Tesla Solar Roof installation team has completed an install in less than 2 days. This did not include the amount of time that it took to install the underlayment,…

Tesla Solar Roof Installers Needed, Training Provided

Tesla Solar Roof Installers Needed, Training Provided

JIll BinocheOct 30, 2020

Tesla Energy is in dire need of qualified Solar Roof installers and is offering free training, no experience required. Successful applicants will get to work with Tesla’s latest solar technology,…

Serial 1 Cycle Company Harley Davidson eBike Spin-Off

Serial 1 Cycle Company Harley Davidson eBike Spin-Off

Jon MentorOct 26, 2020

Serial 1 Cycle Company, a Harley Davidson spin-off, is announcing the availability of its first electric bicycle at midnight on November 16, 2020. Unlike several other ebike companies that simply…

Lavo Hydrogen Fuel Cell A Tesla Powerwall Rival

Lavo Hydrogen Fuel Cell A Tesla Powerwall Rival

JIll BinocheOct 18, 2020

Lavo Hydrogen Technology has introduced their new Lavo system, a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell battery for the home to compete with the Tesla Powerwall. The Lavo system will combine with…

Tesla Solar Roof Installed In 4 Just Days

Tesla Solar Roof Installed In 4 Just Days

JIll BinocheOct 16, 2020

A Tesla Solar Roof has been installed in just 4 days by Weddle & Sons Roofing in Auburn, Kansas. The installation included removing the existing roof, laying down a weatherproof…

Sources

Manufacturers: Aventon Bikes, Benno Bikes, Blix Electric Bikes, Cannondale, Cero Bikes, Civia Cycles, Kona, Liv Cycling, Pivot Cycles, Rad Power Bikes, Riese & Müller, Serial 1 Cycle Company, Specialized Bikes, Surly Bikes, Tern Bicycles, Trek Bikes, Tuesday Cycles, Xtracycle, Yuba Bikes

Jon is an editor at Electric Guide and is our resident electric bike and electric motorcycle expert.  Jon has a M.S. in Computer Science, won several intercollegiate events as a member of the UCLA Cycling Team, and is currently active on the USA Triathlon circuit ... which doesn't allow electric motors. Jon also writes for our sister publication Wear.guide. Send tips and story ideas to Jon at: jon@electric.guide