What Are Ebike ‘Classes’ and What Do They Imply?

Over the previous few years, electrical bikes have skyrocketed in recognition (aware determination to not use the phrase exploded there), with some estimates saying that ebike gross sales within the US grew tenfold over the past decade. Whether or not you’re available in the market in your first ebike or are borrowing one out of your native lending library, you is perhaps questioning what an ebike’s class denotes.

There are three designations of ebikes in America—Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3—which are outlined by a small handful of traits. Whereas most ebikes have a most energy output of 750 watts, it’s a mixture of a motorbike’s high velocity and the way that velocity is achieved that places every ebike into its right class. The three courses additionally decide the place you may experience your ebike.

Legal guidelines differ state by state, however there’s sufficient crossover to make some common factors about how and the place you may experience your ebike, relying on its class. “When it comes to ebike classes, the laws are really similar across states,” mentioned Doug Dahl, communications lead at Goal Zero, a division of the Washington Visitors Fee in Olympia, Washington.

Up to date September 2025: We broadly up to date this explainer.

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Class 1 Electrical Bikes

{Photograph}: Adrienne So

{Photograph}: Adrienne So

{Photograph}: Adrienne So

{Photograph}: Adrienne So

Class 1 ebikes use solely pedal-assist know-how. In different phrases, a rider needs to be powering the bike’s pedals for the electrical motor to kick in. In some situations, Class 1 bikes even have a handlegrip-based or thumb-activated throttle. Nevertheless, these can solely be activated when the rider is pedaling the bike.

Moreover, Class 1 ebikes have a high velocity of 20 miles per hour.

In most locations, a Class 1 ebike is authorized to experience nearly anyplace you may experience conventional bikes (that are coming to be often called “analog bikes” or the much more annoying “acoustic bikes”), akin to on greenways, bike lanes, and park paths.

Class 2 Electrical Bikes

{Photograph}: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani

{Photograph}: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani

{Photograph}: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani

{Photograph}: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani

Rad Energy Bikes

RadRunner Max

Along with pedal help, Class 2 ebikes are outfitted with throttles {that a} rider can function even after they aren’t pedaling. Consider a small moped or a really, very gradual motorbike. So gradual, in actual fact, that their high velocity is legally regulated to twenty miles per hour.

Like Class 1 ebikes, Class 2 bikes are permitted nearly in every single place. In different phrases, the one distinction between Class 1 and Class 2 ebikes is a throttle that may be operated impartial of the pedal-assist mechanism.

Class 3 Electrical Bikes

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor

{Photograph}: Parker Corridor

With a high velocity of 28 miles per hour, Class 3 bikes are probably the most highly effective of all. Nevertheless, given their velocity, most states impose heavier restrictions on the place you may experience a Class 3 ebike. Like several bicycle, riders can function a Class 3 ebike on roads, in site visitors lanes, and in road-adjacent bike lanes. Nevertheless, Class 3 bikes are sometimes prohibited on greenways, paths, and in parks.

Some ebikes provide riders the power to toggle between Courses 2 and three, providing extra choices as to the place and the way you may experience your ebike.

Ebike or Electrical Bike?

Earlier than going any additional, let’s leap again to the place I made point out of a small moped or a really, very gradual motorbike. As electrical know-how develops quickly, and states and municipalities goal to maintain up, there’s loads of grey space as to what’s and isn’t an ebike, how these issues differ from scooters, and whether or not or not any of them are mopeds.

A straightforward solution to decide whether or not your ebike is actually an ebike, thereby requiring no extra licensing akin to a motorbike license or a driver’s license, is to notice the bike’s high velocity. If the machine’s electrical motor is able to speeds in extra of 28 miles per hour, it isn’t an ebike, no matter what state you’re in.