Electric bikes how fast

What better way to switch from "conventional" biking to fast pedal-assisted cruising than a speed pedelec built for efficiency and versatility? Do you already have an e-bike that meets your daily commuting needs, but you want something with a bit more "juice" to it?

Or is this your first time shopping for an electric bike? Even though the popularity of e-bikes has exploded in recent years, there's still a lot of confusion regarding what an electric bike is — and isn't. It gets even worse when you throw the relatively new category of speed pedelecs into the mix. And since it's hard to ignore speed pedelecs when talking about the fastest electric bikes, we figured it's best to clear things up before we go any further.

So, what's the difference between traditional electric bikes and the high-speed alternatives known as speed pedelecs?

And what's a pedelec, anyway? With pedelecs, motor assistance kicks in automatically when you start pedaling, but there is no throttle present. That's because the electric biking community tends to use the two terms interchangeably — which brings us to our next point:. There's a difference between an e-bike and a speed pedelec — and it boils down to propulsion methods.

A pedelec can deliver varying levels of pedal-assist but no throttle. The motor's there to boost your pedaling power, not replace it entirely. On the other hand, an electric bike is generally throttle-based, delivering power on demand — without the rider necessarily having to do anything. Now, pedelecs are generally split up into two separate categories based on the top speed at which they can provide motor assistance to the rider. You have the "conventional" electric bikes with an assisted-pedaling speed of If you're here looking for an electric bike that can achieve the latter, what you're after is the so-called speed pedelec — or, simply put, a high-speed e-bike.

So, we already pointed out that, if you want a fast e-bike that's approved for use on United States' roads, a Class 3 speed pedelec is your best bet. We'll dig deeper into how this classification works later on in the article. For now, it's important to remember that it groups electric bikes based on motor power and achievable top speeds. An electric bike with a pedal-assist speed of That means that you don't need a license or a license plate, and you're not required to wear a helmet — even though we highly recommend that you do.

A speed pedelec or a high-speed e-bike can easily hit the 28 mph mark in pedal-assist mode. It doesn't sound like a lot — not compared to a car — but make no mistake about it:. You'll be dealing with dangerous speeds whenever you hop on a high-speed electric bike — and that's never something to be taken lightly!

You'll likely have to register your two-wheeler with your country's vehicle registration authorities, get a driving license, and wear a helmet at all times. Plus, you'll have to obtain liability insurance. But we're talking about introducing electric motor-powered two-wheelers that reach speeds of up to 28 mph onto the roads.

Oh, and just for comparison, the average cycling speed is around 10 to 12 mph. The more casual-feeling e-bikes that meet the needs of daily commuting, running errands, and cruising around town — and the high-powered beasts that take top speeds to a new level. The five electric bikes listed below decided to go down the fast-and-furious road — and are our top picks for the fastest electric bikes of !

When you have a team of outdoor enthusiasts designing an electric bike, as is the case with BAKCOU, one thing's certain:. It's going to look — and behave — like a hunting tool engineered and fine-tuned to go faster and further than your average e-bike ever could.

BAKCOU's Flatlander is an easy-on-the-wallet blend of everything you loved about the Mule and Storm — from high-end components to off-road toughness and insane power — designed to tackle flatter grounds. Read our Flatlander review and see what makes this BAKCOU e-bike our top pick — besides the fact that it's easily the fastest electric bike on our list!

It might be designated to flat land — hence the name — but that doesn't make the Flatlander any less rugged and capable of venturing into the wild. It has a lot of the same trustworthy components as its legendary brother, the Mule.

The high-grade aluminum alloy frame, with a stand-over height of However, the extra weight contributes to Flatlander's overall sturdiness and more-than-welcome pound load capacity. Plus, it's fitted with aggressive-looking, skid-proof pedals, a shock-absorbing seat post, and millimeter handlebars with locking handle grips. It's powered by an extended-distance 48V If that's not enough, upgrading your battery to the Some things about the construction of this e-bike are pretty hard to miss, like the byinch Maxxis Minion fat tires.

Others require you to hop on the Flatlander and experience them for yourself — like the air-suspension forks. The Tektro dual-piston hydraulic brakes, with front millimeter rotors and millimeter ones in the back, can put this beast of an e-bike to a full stop. Rad Power Bikes' fifth-generation RadRover is one hefty, big-wheeled, rugged-but-charming, go-anywhere, do-anything type of electric bike.

It might not boast the insane speed levels of our previous pick — but it's a blast to ride, nonetheless.

So, make no mistake about it:. More speed is great when you're on a deadline or have a tight timeframe to finish your ride. Many of our eco-minded riders love our bikes because they're much more friendly to the environment. Even while you're doing your part to help the planet, you still need to get places on time. Whether you're heading to work, an appointment or any other destination with a specific arrival time, these bikes may be the better option.

With the ability to juice up your bike using the throttle or the pedal assist , you can feel the power of these bikes at multiple points. Whether you want top speed or a little bit less, you can choose whether you want to use the throttle or pedal assist functions of your electric bike.

When operating the e-bike on private property or a closed circuit race track, Race Track Mode can be selected from the LCD display. In Race Track mode, the maximum speed may be faster than 28 mph depending on many factors such as rider strength, tire pressure, wind, and ambient temperature. When you know you have access to safe terrain and want to see exactly what your bike is capable of, use race track mode. In this mode, every model of our bikes can go even faster.

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Electric Bikes FAQs. July 14, So, how fast is an electric bike? Motors Assistance to Speed The motor will almost always determine electric bicycle speed. A w electric bike goes approximately 20 mph A w electric bike goes approximately 25 mph A w electric bike goes approximately 35 mph Peddling Not all e-bikes give you the option to pedal, but those that do give you more opportunities to reach top speed.

Type of Terrain E-bikes are separated between two types of terrain: rough trails and leisure. Rough Trails: Like a traditional bike, e-bikes are capable of cycling up steep hills for an extended period with the proper battery and motor w minimum preferred. Photo Courtesy: Katrina Dent. Therefore, we are going to use this method to find out what you need to expect from your new e-bike in terms of energy capacity.

Read also: Learn the differences between e-bike batteries — in this article. Calculating watt-hours is really simple and quick. We need to multiply the voltage by the amp hours of the battery pack. Watt-hours will determine the range your electric bike will go, the cost of your new e-bike and the weight. Really important aspects you need to think about when buying an e-bike because you will need to sacrifice weight for power in some instances.

One quick example: watts motors burn in general watts hours in an hour and 20 minutes at full throttle, but with not very much electric assistance. Another example: a watt motor, which burns through the same pack at full throttle in less than 40 minutes. Of course, the amount of power assisting you while pedaling will be at least twice comparing it with the watts motor. The power explained above is what would make you feel assisted.

Class 2 offers probably the most dynamic setup of them all, as it can adjust to most of the need. These e-bikes do assist you when throttling and pedaling from start to end. So, if you are looking for a full-assistance e-bike, then you need to buy a class 2 or class 3 e-bikes. Classes 3 are a little bit different. Yes, they provide you with assistance while throttling and pedaling. But these e-bikes maybe a little fast and wild for some people.

They are limited in their speed, but normally its power is higher than other classes. Read also: How to select electric assistance levels on your e-bike? Do you want to have full assistance while riding your electric bike? Classes 2 or 3 are your way to go. Do you want to have semi-assistance and still working out while riding your e-bike?

Class 1 is your way to go.