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

Over the previous few years, electric bikes have skyrocketed in reputation (acutely aware choice to not use the phrase exploded there), with some estimates saying that ebike gross sales within the US grew tenfold during the last decade. Whether or not you might be available in the market on your first ebike or are borrowing one out of your local lending library, you may be questioning what an ebike’s class denotes.

There are three designations of ebikes in America—Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3—which can be outlined by a small handful of traits. Whereas most ebikes have a most energy output of 750 watts, it’s a mix of a motorcycle’s high velocity and how that velocity is achieved that places every ebike into its right class. The three lessons additionally decide the place you’ll be able to trip your ebike.

Legal guidelines differ state by state, however there’s sufficient crossover to make some normal factors about how and the place you’ll be able to trip your ebike, relying on its class. “On the subject of ebike lessons, the legal guidelines are actually comparable throughout states,” stated Doug Dahl, communications lead at Goal Zero, a division of the Washington Site visitors Fee in Olympia, Washington.

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

Class 1 Electrical Bikes

Class 1 ebikes use solely pedal-assist expertise. In different phrases, a rider must be powering the bike’s pedals for the electrical motor to kick in. In some cases, Class 1 bikes even have a handlegrip-based or thumb-activated throttle. Nonetheless, 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 trip nearly anyplace you’ll be able to trip conventional bikes (that are coming to be often called “analog bikes” or the much more annoying “acoustic bikes”), reminiscent of on greenways, bike lanes, and park paths.

Class 2 Electrical Bikes

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 reality, that their high velocity is legally regulated to twenty miles per hour.

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

Class 3 Electrical Bikes

With a high velocity of 28 miles per hour, Class 3 bikes are essentially the most highly effective of all. Nonetheless, given their velocity, most states impose heavier restrictions on the place you’ll be able to trip 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. Nonetheless, Class 3 bikes are usually prohibited on greenways, paths, and in parks.

Some ebikes provide riders the power to toggle between Lessons 2 and three, providing extra choices as to the place and the way you would possibly trip your ebike.

Ebike or Electrical Motorbike?

Earlier than going any additional, let’s bounce again to the place I made point out of a small moped or a really, very gradual motorbike. As electrical expertise develops quickly, and states and municipalities goal to maintain up, there’s numerous 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 reminiscent of a bike 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’s not an ebike, no matter what state you’re in.