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

Over the previous few years, electric bikes have skyrocketed in reputation (aware determination to not use the phrase exploded there), with some estimates saying that ebike gross sales within the US grew tenfold over the past decade. Whether or not you’re out there 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 might 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 pace and how that pace is achieved that places every ebike into its right class. The three courses additionally decide the place you’ll be able to experience your ebike.

Legal guidelines fluctuate state by state, however there may be sufficient crossover to make some basic factors about how and the place you’ll be able to experience your ebike, relying on its class. “On the subject of ebike courses, the legal guidelines are actually related 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 know-how. In different phrases, a rider needs to be powering the bike’s pedals for the electrical motor to kick in. In some situations, 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 pace of 20 miles per hour.

In most locations, a Class 1 ebike is authorized to experience nearly anyplace you’ll be able to experience conventional bikes (that are coming to be generally known as “analog bikes” or the much more annoying “acoustic bikes”), corresponding to 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 once they aren’t pedaling. Consider a small moped or a really, very gradual motorbike. So gradual, in reality, that their high pace 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 impartial of the pedal-assist mechanism.

Class 3 Electrical Bikes

With a high pace of 28 miles per hour, Class 3 bikes are essentially the most highly effective of all. Nonetheless, given their pace, most states impose heavier restrictions on the place you’ll be able to experience a Class 3 ebike. Like several bicycle, riders can function a Class 3 ebike on roads, in visitors lanes, and in road-adjacent bike lanes. Nonetheless, Class 3 bikes are sometimes prohibited on greenways, paths, and in parks.

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

Ebike or Electrical Bike?

Earlier than going any additional, let’s soar again to the place I made point out of a small moped or a really, very gradual motorbike. As electrical know-how develops quickly, and states and municipalities purpose to maintain up, there may be a variety of 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 simple solution to decide whether or not your ebike is really an ebike, thereby requiring no extra licensing corresponding to a motorbike license or a driver’s license, is to notice the bike’s high pace. 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.