Electric bikes look a lot like the nonelectric bikes you’re familiar with, but they're equipped with a battery and a small electric motor to assist you in pedaling faster and farther. Ebikes are offered in a variety of styles, including cargo bikes, commuting bikes, mountain bikes, folding bikes and more.

The motors on an electric bike senses when you’re pedaling and gives you a boost to propel the bike forward, making pedaling easier. Many ebikes 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, others have a throttle button that will assist you even when you don’t.

Ebikes are categorized 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 ebikes as a lowspeed bicycle with fully operational pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (about 1 horsepower).

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