How fast do electric bikes go?
Electric bikes are a great alternative to cars. They’re environmentally friendly, can get you around faster than walking, and don’t require any gas.
The only issue is that it’s hard to know how fast they go without trying them out!
Speed is important for many reasons, like getting to your destination on time or staying safe. If you want to know how fast an electric bike goes, keep reading!
Table of Contents
Classes of electric bikes
The speed of electric bikes is measured in kilometers per hour (km/h). This unit of measurement is used for all types of pedal bicycles.
There are three classes to group electric bikes into based on their maximum support speed:
Class 1 or Pedelec: the motor has a continuous power of more than 250 watts and a maximum speed of 25 km/h
Class 2 or Throttle: the motor has a continuous power lower than 250 watts and a maximum speed of 45 km/h
Class 3 or Pedalec: the motor is activated by pedaling and does not offer any support when you use the throttle. The motors cut off at 30 km/h.
In case you’re wondering, there are no electric bikes that support speeds higher than 45km/h without pedaling!
Riders have to pedal to go faster than this limit. This means that Class 3 e-bikes can’t be used on bike paths for cyclists!
What about the laws?
Different countries have different laws for electric bikes.
Here are the general rules :
-The maximum support speed is 25km/h
-You must be 14 or older to ride an e-bike (this age limit isn’t applied in all countries)
-Electric bikes can’t use bike lanes dedicated exclusively for regular cyclists. They have access to general-purpose roads instead. In most places, you’re required to wear a helmet when riding an electric bike.
In some countries, there’s no minimum age requirement and riders don’t have to wear helmets! If you’re unsure about the regulations in your country, check with a local dealer or by contacting your city officials for more details.
How much the motor will assist you?
Electric bikes can be made out of different materials. Most e-bikes are made with metal frames and rubber tires. When moving, they feel like regular non-electric bicycles! The motors in these bikes only assist riders when pedaling and don’t give you any boost.
The motors in Class 1 and Class 2 electric bikes help to propel the bike forward when you pedal. They add up to 250 watts of additional power to your strength, giving you a nice push that’s just enough to get you going on flat surfaces!
Some models increase the speed by 25% while others add more than 75%. That means that an average rider will be able to go between 12 and 22 km/h faster than usual with these types of electric bikes!
The majority of Class 3 e-bikes use a throttle to give you a push. These models offer 4000 watts or more. That means that an average rider will be able to go between 19 and 27 km/h faster than usual on these types of electric bikes!
Battery capacity and calculating e-bike range
Every electric bike has a certain battery capacity. This is the maximum speed that you will be able to go on one charge!
The range of an e-bike is measured in kilometers and it’s how many km you can travel between charges. To calculate this number, divide the size of your battery by its voltage. You’ll come up with the number of hours that it’ll take to reach your destination.
For example, an electric bike with 20Ah and 350W has a battery capacity of 16 Wh. It would take about 2 hours to go 100km with this type of e-bike!
Pedaling efforts and e-bike range
If the maximum speed of the electric bike doesn’t bother you, then we can move on. Riders that want to go faster than 45 km/h will have to pedal to do so! That’s right: Even with a Class 3 e-bike, you need to put some effort into it if you want to reach a decent speed. This is the trade-off that you’re going to have to do if you want an electric bike capable of speeds higher than 45 km/h!
People who buy Class 1 and 2 e-bikes don’t have to worry about this because they can go as fast as their motors will carry them. The motors will only work when you pedal and won’t push you past the limit.
Pedal-assist e-bikes with a throttle can go faster than 45 km/h but they still need to be pedaled. The difference is that with these types of bikes, riders don’t have to do anything else! All they need to do is push on the throttle to go faster.
Riders that want to increase their speed need to pedal twice as hard when they’re using a Class 3 e-bike!
Type of terrain and e-bike performance
E-bikes with a Class 1, 2, and 3 ratings can be used on all terrain. Depending on the type of electric bike that you have, it will behave differently on different surfaces. Spoil yourself and test out your model after receiving it to see how well it does!
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are the safest to use on dirt roads. They have lower top speeds so they’re easier to control, especially when riding through hilly terrain!
Class 3 bikes are ideal for flat surfaces but it’ll be harder to handle them on the unstable ground! If you’re not an experienced electric bike rider, then Class 4 models are one of the safest bets for you! They offer only enough power to get you going but not enough to make them hard to control.
Class 5 electric bikes are similar to Class 3 models in terms of speed and performance. Their tires are more rugged, though, which makes them perfect for off-road use. It’s best if you test out the model that you’re going to buy in a safe place before using it outside!
The type of terrain will affect how fast you can go on an electric bike. For example, you’ll be able to go faster on a flat road than if the road is sloped upwards or downhill!
Tires are also important when it comes to electric bikes. If your tires are narrow, they’re going to slide on wet surfaces. Narrow tires are useful on regular bicycles because you don’t need to put much effort into pedaling. Electric bikes with narrow tires aren’t very efficient when it comes to using pedal-assist or throttle!
Riders that want to reach higher speeds should use wide tires like those found on mountain electric bikes.
The Dangers of Superfast E-bikes
As a newbie electric bike rider, you need to consider the speed that your model is capable of going.
If you’re still learning how to use an e-bike and have Class 3, 4, or 5 e-bikes, then you should stick to riding on flat surfaces! Things can get dangerous if your wheels start slipping as you’re riding on an unstable surface.
How Fast Does a 250w Electric Bike Go?
A Class 3 e-bike with a 250W motor and 350 Wh battery can go around 20 km/h. That’s the only speed that you’re going to get no matter what!
If your e-bike doesn’t have a pedal-assist or a throttle then you need to use the pedals to increase your speed.
How Fast Does a 500w Electric Bike Go?
A 500W electric bike will go slightly faster than a 250W model. These can reach speeds of around 30 km/h depending on the type of terrain that you’re riding on!
How Fast Does a 750w Electric Bike Go?
If you want an e-bike that can go faster than 30 km/h, then getting a 750W model is your best bet! These can hit speeds of up to 45 km/h because they have more torque and power.
How Fast Does a 1000w Electric Bike Go?
1000 W e-bikes are some of the fastest electric bikes on the market! They can go as fast as 60 km/h and even reach speeds of 70 km/h if you’re pedaling hard enough.
How Fast Does a 1500w Electric Bike Go?
If you want the fastest ride possible, then get a Class 4 e-bike with a 1500W motor and battery. If you have enough power to go 70 km/h on roads without steep slopes, then this is perfect for you!
Conclusion
As long as you use your e-bike responsibly, then you should have no problems whatsoever! Remember that the faster you go, the more slippery surfaces become. Be careful where you’re riding and try to find out if there are any speed limits on the roads that you plan on taking!
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