Classes of E-Bikes: Understanding the Three Class System

A quick primer on what you need to know if buying a new e-bike.

From commuting to touring to racing, e-bikes represent a significant source of revenue in the bike industry. In 2016, e-bike sales accounted for only 1 percent of total revenue dollars, but by 2023 that figure had grown to 19 percent according to Liam Donaghue, the senior research manager at the advocacy organization PeopleForBikes.

While the popularity of e-bikes increases, figuring out which one is the best for your needs can be daunting—especially if you are more e-bike curious than savvy to the market. But it doesn’t need to be. One of the first things you’ll want to understand is that there are “classes” of e-bikes, and you’ll get a different experience with each of the three categories.

In 2014, PeopleForBikes realized that before the government stepped in, it needed to assure that e-bikes were classified as bicycles and not motorized vehicles.

“We have 49 states which classify an electric bicycle as a bicycle as opposed to a motorized vehicle,” says Dr. Ash Lovell, e-bike expert and VP of government relations at PeopleForBikes. “That was really the goal of the three class model legislation.” Anchorage is putting the Class 3 system in place, and the whole state of Alaska may adopt the legislation in 2025.

Why is classification necessary in the first place? Well, for one thing it would be a pain to own an e-bike in one state or community, but then not be able to legally ride it in another. It also brought a sense of uniformity to the industry at the same time. The three classes include two different types of motor assistance.

Pedal assisted bikes work with the rider to multiply the force they put into the pedals. The harder one pedals, the more assistance.

Throttle assist is similar to a motorcycle. These bicycles may be pedaled, but that is not necessary for forward travel. The assistance comes from moving a throttle most commonly located on the handlebars. Also, the power is provided either by a motor at the crank or in the rear hub.

Here’s a brief overview of the three classes:

All of the long-standing U.S. bicycle manufacturers offer Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes as well as a number of new manufacturers who only produce e-bikes. A survey of the offerings of four of the larger U.S. bicycle manufactures—Giant, Trek, Specialized and Cannondale—shows that their models range from about $2,000-$2,500 on the low end, all the way up to $10,000-plus. This may seem like a high cost of entry into the e-bike world, but these are complex vehicles and a lot of the price increase is for support of the e-bike once you have bought it.

Companies such as Rad Power and Aventon offer the most options of Class 2 e-bikes and are two of the industry leaders. Their Class 2 bikes price range is $1,000-$2,000.

The three class model has been so well received that 43 states use this system for their e-bike legislation. It was also included into federal legislation in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure act, Lovell says. An example of a state that does not use the three class system as originally designed is New York. In heavily congested areas such as New York City, e-bikes are a key mode of transportation for many businesses, especially the service industry.

As such the state has increased the speed limit for throttle assisted bikes from 20 to 25 mph.

How does a consumer go about purchasing an e-bike that is right for them? Along with reading trusted and tested reviews on Bicycling and asking other riders, going directly to your local bike shop for input is a smart first bet.

“One of the things I always recommend is that folks go in and talk to a retailer about the different options,” explains Lovell. “There are a lot of direct-to-consumer bikes that are out there which are really solid and you can definitely do the research on that. But I think talking to a retailer is a great way to make a connection with a person who is going to help you to continue to ride because they will help you service and maintain your bike over time.”

Lovell also notes that the retailer can answer some very important questions such as what is the class of e-bike you are considering, how fast it can legally go, and where it can be legally ridden in your area.

It is important to note that most bike shops, for a number of reasons like insurance/liability, only work on the e-bikes that they sell. If you buy a direct-to-consumer e-bike you might have difficulty finding a bike shop to work on it if there is a problem.

Accident rates using e-bikes have made headlines as they have soared in popularity. One example is that from 2017 to 2022, the number of people being treated for e-bike-related injuries at America’s emergency rooms increased year after year, according to one WebMD story reporting on an analysis in JAMA Surgery.

But don’t be so alarmed by every headline.

“We don’t have the best data on this,” Lovell says. “Even the federal agencies who are tasked with safety don’t have great information on this. Partially it is because folks who are first responders don’t always know what is an e-bike and what is a motorized vehicle and what is this out of class thing which looks like an e-bike but actually goes way too fast.”

Lovell says that the data PeopleForBikes has reviewed has shown that the accident rates are in line with traditional bicycles, especially considering how the popularity has grown of these products over the last few years. It should be noted that most riders will be traveling much faster on an e-bike than a pedal bike.

That means that dangerous situations may occur more quickly and the increased speed means the potential is greater for more serious injury. It is critical that riders ride responsibly by wearing a helmet and obeying all traffic laws.

One issue PeopleForBikes is working on is “out-of-class” e-bikes. This is a problem with some Class 2, throttle assisted models that can be “delimited” or “jailbroken,” meaning the mechanism that limits the maximum speed to which the motor can give assistance has been defeated, either by cutting a wire or through an app. This allows the bike to go much faster than 20 mph.

“We are finding that parents don’t really know what these products are, but they are popular products because the kids see their friends riding them and they go to their parents and say, ‘Hey, I want this.’” notes Lovell.

The problem is once these “delimited” bikes go significantly faster than 20 mph, they don’t qualify as electric bicycles.

“And we are seeing a lot of safety concerns in California and other coastal communities where these types of products are popular,” Lovell says. “Both because of the intersection of use riding on roads and their interactions with automobiles. But also these products being ridden in bike lanes and other folks being concerned about how fast these products are going on shared multi-use paths.”

It is important for people to understand the regulations and laws for the areas where they want to ride their e-bike. Many federal, state, county and local agencies that oversee mulit-use trails, bike paths, dirt roads and trails have bans in place for motorcycles and other throttle controlled motor powered vehicles, which are being expanded to include Class 2 e-bikes.

Class 1 e-bikes, because of their lower 20 mph maximum assisted speed and lack of a throttle, are gaining acceptance off road, but still may be banned. Studies concerning the impact of Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes on off road trails are still being conducted. This means that the regulations concerning where these classes of e-bikes can be ridden off road could be changing in the areas where you want to ride.

Communities are now figuring out how to enforce the right kind of behaviors and identify problematic bikes versus the traditional electric bicycles. There are communities like Encinitas and Irvine in California, which have enforcement plus education programs for youths riding to school. “Sometimes folks just don’t know what they bought and sometimes kids don’t know how to ride responsibly,” adds Lovell.

If you are contemplating buying an e-bike, make sure your choice strictly adheres to one of the three defined classes, otherwise it might not be legally ridden on public streets or trails. If you have any question as to the legality of riding your e-bike on a particular trail it is best to contact the organization which oversees it’s management.

Also, be sure the charging and battery systems comply with either UL standard 2849 or 2271 or the European standard EN 15194. And when you finally get on the road to enjoy your purchase ride responsibly!

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