If you are wondering how fast could an electric bike go, you have come to the right place. This is one of the most common questions asked by the electric bike community. Many people think that e-bikes can go as fast as other engine-powered bikes on the market. But this is not the actual case – not at least in all the e-bikes available. Electric bikes are usually restricted in the top speed they are allowed to travel. In the United States, an electric bike can travel at a top speed of 32 mp/h (51 km/h) while in most of Europe, the speed is restricted to 28 mp/h (45 km/h). But the top speed of an e-bike can vary depending on the country you reside in as well as the class of the e-bike. This article provides information on how fast an electric bike could travel.
Electric bike classes are created to classify each e-bike under a specific class depending on its motor, capability, and security. People will use electric bikes for different purposes. It’s important to know what kind of electric bike best suits your purpose. Whether you use an e-bike to travel to the grocery store every morning, travel to work daily or just to have fun with a group of friends, you should invest in the most suitable e-bike for each of these purposes. An avid rider or a complete beginner should be able to choose the appropriate electric bike to suit his/her style and skills. That’s the best way to enjoy a memorable ride. For this, you need to have an idea about the different classes of e-bikes and how they serve your purpose.
Electric bikes are classified under three classes in most countries and states – including the United States. Here are the three classes of electric bikes and their capabilities in terms of top speed and other requirements.
Class-1 – These are the most passive form of e-bikes out there. These bikes assist you only with the pedaling and not throttling. The Class-1 e-bike can help you only after you start pedaling. They will cease to assist you once you have reached a speed of 20 miles per hour.
Class-2 – These bikes are known as the “low speed & throttle-assisted electric bikes.” The motor can propel the rider without having to pedal. But these electric bikes are also limited to 20 miles an hour in their speed. You can reach a higher speed on one of these bikes by switching off the motor and pedaling the bike instead.
Class-3 – These bikes are faster and aerodynamic. This class of bikes is known as “speed pedal assisted e-bicycle.” The maximum speed of this bike is limited to 32 miles per hour and offer assistance just when the rider starts to pedal the bike. The Class-3 e-bike comes with a speedometer for your convenience.
Most people wonder “which e-bike power rating will suit me?” when investing in an electric bike. Just because the bike has a higher wattage, it doesn’t mean the e-bike is the fastest. Although higher wattage means higher power, it doesn’t necessarily translate directly into speed. When you want to know how much the motor of the bike will be assisting you during the ride, your weight and the size of the hill should be taken into consideration. The heavier you are, the more power you will need to ride the bike. In case the hills you climb are longer and steeper, the more power or wattage you will need to climb the hill.
For example, if you weigh 60 kgs and decide to climb an insignificant hill, your weight and ride don’t need lots of power under your hood. With 250 watts, you can have your trip completed without any problem. If you are 80 kgs and plan to climb a steeper hill, you will need more power to accommodate your journey. A 750-watt electric bike may be the best option for someone like you. These are important factors to consider when you plan to invest in the best electric bike for you.
Are you wondering how fast an electric bike could go? The aforementioned article provides information on how fast an electric bike could travel.