Guides
E-bike questions, answered with numbers
How far can an e-bike go on one charge?
Most popular US e-bikes go about 41 miles per charge for a 180 lb rider at 16 mph with relaxed pedaling over rolling hills (range across 76 bikes: 17–72 miles). At an easy 12 mph on flat ground it's about 63 miles; on throttle only over hills, about 28 miles.
How fast does an e-bike go?
A legal US e-bike stops helping at 20 mph (Class 1 and 2) or 28 mph (Class 3, pedal assist only). A typical 750 W hub e-bike needs about 415 W from the battery to hold 20 mph on throttle and about 980 W for 28 mph, so speed costs range fast.
How much does an e-bike cost?
Popular US e-bikes sell for $449 to $4,999 on brand stores today, with a median of $1,799. Direct-to-consumer hub-drive bikes cluster around $1,000–$2,000; Bosch and Specialized mid-drives run $2,300–$5,000. Running costs are small: about 0.31¢ per mile for electricity plus roughly 2¢ per mile in battery wear.
Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes explained
Class 1: pedal assist only, up to 20 mph. Class 2: throttle allowed, up to 20 mph. Class 3: pedal assist up to 28 mph, usually with a speedometer and age limits. All three have a motor of 750 W or less. Faster or more powerful bikes are mopeds or motorcycles under most state laws.
Do you need a license for an e-bike?
In most US states, no: Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are treated like bicycles, with no license, registration or insurance. The big exception is New Jersey, which since July 19, 2026 requires registration and a license for every e-bike. Bikes over 750 W or above the class speeds usually count as mopeds or motorcycles and do need them.
How long does an e-bike battery last?
Most e-bike batteries keep about 80% of their capacity after roughly 800 to 1,000 full charge cycles. At a typical 41 miles per charge, 800 cycles at an average 90% health is around 30,000 miles. Replacement packs cost about $370–$600 for direct-to-consumer brands and over $1,100 for Bosch.
How long does it take to charge an e-bike, and what does it cost?
Typically 5–6 hours from empty with the stock 2–3 A charger. A full charge costs about $0.15 at the US average of 18.31¢/kWh, about 0.31¢ per mile.
How much range does an e-bike lose in cold weather?
About 17% at 32°F and 28% at 20°F compared with 70°F, from colder battery cells and denser air. The loss is temporary: keep the battery indoors and charge it above freezing.
E-bike rebates and incentives in 2026
Which state and city e-bike rebates are open right now, how much they pay and who qualifies.
Discontinued e-bikes and what replaced them
Lectric XP 3.0, Aventon Level.2, RadRunner 2 and more: the current model for each.