Electric bikes are a great method of transportation. They are convenient, eco-friendly, and offer all the freedom of a regular bicycle with the speed of a motorbike.
If you’re interested in getting an electric bike, chances are your first question will be “How fast can it go?”. Unfortunately, this can be a tricky question to answer, and there are several factors that can determine the speed an e-bike can achieve.
But don’t worry – this simple guide has got you covered. Here we’ll take you through the various different types of electric bikes, the laws surrounding their speeds, and the actual maximum speeds you can achieve on one.
So let’s get started on this journey to answer ‘How Fast Are Electric Bikes?’!
The Different Types of Electric Bikes
When you’re trying to figure out How Fast Are Electric Bikes?, it’s important to first know what type of e-bike you’re dealing with.
Different bikes can reach wildly different speeds. Several factors, such as the strength of the motor, your physical fitness, and the area you live in can all affect how fast an electric bike can go.
So to help you know what speeds are possible, here’s a quick rundown of the different types of electric bikes.
In the USA, an electric bike needs to conform to certain rules and regulations. The maximum speed and power of an electric bike differ between models, but there is a set speed that your bike can help you reach.
Electric bikes in the USA can have a maximum of 500 watts, which (depending on the bike) will let it assist your pedaling to speeds of up to 32km/h (or 20mph). Once you hit this speed, the bike’s motor will stop helping you pedal and you’ll be left pedaling solo until your speed dips and the motor kicks back in to support you.
This isn’t the case everywhere, however, and some places have stricter or laxer rules when it comes to how fast an electric bike can go.
In the UK, electric bikes are limited to speeds of 15mph (or around 25km/h). This is the same in Europe, where an e-bike is only able to assist you up to these speeds.
Meanwhile, other areas allow even faster speeds. For instance, a handful of states permit 1000 watt e-bikes, which can reach speeds of over 50km/h (~30mph).
Pedelecs are the name given to faster (but still legal!) electric bikes that are capable of achieving higher speeds with pedal assistance. Pedelecs have stronger motors that can assist you in reaching speeds of 45km/h (28mph) before it shuts off and you’re left using the pedals alone.
With all these different types of electric bikes that are subjected to various regulations, it can be hard to know just how fast an e-bike can go. However, the strength of an e-bike’s motor isn’t necessarily a set speed limit, and it’s possible to exceed that speed.
How Fast Can An Electric Bike Go?
So let’s delve into the big question: ‘How Fast Are Electric Bikes?’
The important thing to remember is that electric bikes are meant to assist your pedaling, not replace it. While electric scooters are able to move without assistance, you’ll need to pedal along with your e-bike for it to go.
Because of this, there isn’t a set maximum speed that your e-bike can reach. Even though the bike’s motor will stop assisting your pedaling once you hit a certain speed, you can still gain more speed through just pedaling alone.
For instance, just because an electric bike’s motor is limited to 20km/h, you can go faster than this by pedaling. So while an e-bike may have a speed limit in terms of its motor, there isn’t a set speed that you can’t exceed.
That said, some types of electric bikes have stronger motors that are harder to pedal faster than. Pedelecs, for example, have motors that will assist you up to speeds of 45km/h before the motor stops helping you pedal.
In addition to being faster than most other electric bikes, a pedelec is also generally faster than manual pedaling (at least in the long term). It’s still possible to reach speeds higher than the motor, but cycling consistently at 45km/h is a lot more difficult to achieve.
Another factor that can affect an e-bike’s maximum speed is its frame.
Electric bikes have a heavier frame and thicker wheels than a regular bicycle. This is because an electric bike has to account for the weight of its motor and battery, and the frame needs to be heavier to keep it maneuverable at high speeds.
The tires also need to be thicker and wider; this gives them extra stability and prevents them from wearing down as quickly.
Because of an electric bike’s extra weight, it can be difficult to pedal faster than the motor will assist. This is especially true for pedelecs and their powerful motors. So while it’s possible to reach higher speeds than your e-bike’s motor will help you achieve, sometimes this can be hard to pull off.
Electric bikes with less-powerful motors (for example, many states in the USA have a limit of 30km/h, while Europe has a limit of 25km/h) can be outpaced by pedaling alone. That said, you should go by the maximum motor speed of the bike when figuring out how fast your e-bike can travel.
Final Thoughts
So there you are – now you know just how fast are Electric Bikes.
Electric bikes are a great and versatile alternative to cars and other conventional forms of transport. Because of their low emissions and ease of use, e-bikes are one of the best choices for commutes and leisurely rides alike.
While there are limits to how fast an electric bike’s motor can help you pedal, there’s nothing stopping you from exceeding this. Pedaling alone can let you hit higher speeds than if you were being assisted by the bike’s motor, although the weight of an electric bike can make it trickier.
Whether you’re relying on the assistance of your bike’s motor or simply pedaling manually, you can achieve some great speeds on an e-bike. So if you’re looking to take the leap into alternative transportation, an electric bike is the perfect choice for you.
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