An electric bicycle adds a battery-powered motor to traditional cycling. The motor helps with any energy-sapping portions of your ride and lets you tackle bike trails that you would normally avoid or ride for longer distances. E-bikes are popular with commuters and other riders who want the freedom of a fast ride without the sweaty workout. Despite their benefits, not all e-bikes are the same. Some are illegal to ride on public roads, while others offer a safe and efficient way to beat traffic. You should check your local laws before buying an e-bike.

The motor is powered by a battery and can either be pedal-assisted or power-on-demand (Muetze and Tan, 2007). The former allows the motor to engage only when you pedal, and requires that you remain in control of the bike at all times. The latter, which is the most common type of e-bike on the market, is activated by a throttle mounted on the handlebars. The battery’s wattage, voltage and amp-hours also determine the motor’s performance and how long you can ride.

You can find a wide range of e-bikes on the market, from basic cruisers to mountain bikes and road racers. The key factors to consider are your environment, your fitness level and your budget. For example, a basic e-bike costs a fraction of what a high-end model might cost. E-bikes are more affordable than cars or trucks, and they have the added benefit of being greener than most other forms of transportation.

If you’re looking for an e-bike that will allow you to ride faster, you should consider a speed-capped model. These types of e-bikes are limited to a maximum speed of 20 or 28 mph, depending on the regulations in your area. The speed limit prevents you from hammering down the road and can help you avoid accidents.

The higher the speeds an e-bike can reach, the more dangerous they are to ride. A crash at even a low speed can have severe consequences, especially for people who are not used to riding at such speeds. This risk increases if you’re riding on busy roads with cars and buses.

Qualitative data from our e-bike user study showed that the controller was the most important factor for users when choosing an e-Bike (Pyzdek and Keller, 2003). The results are consistent with other qualitative studies on bike design and usage, which have found that the most critical features for buyers include controller strategy, motor performance, cadence, speed, torque and battery size. The results also indicate that there is room for improvement in displaying this information clearly on the bike. For example, our e-bikes come with three different controller options: RideControl Go, RideControl One and RideControl Dash, each designed to display the most important ride information on a clear and easy-to-read screen. We will continue to improve and refine these displays to provide you with the best e-bike experience possible.