Do you still have to pedal on an electric bike?

The future of transportation is outdoors — and if you live in urban environments electric bikes are the way to go.

Simply put: they’re fast, cost-effective, great for a variety of ages, and fun. But, what constitutes an electric bike, and what makes it better than a standard road bike?

Motor and Battery of Electric Bike

The motor and battery are the two key components that make up an electric bike; bicycles with an electrically-powered boost are classified as pedal-assist, which means the power activates when you start to pedal.

Some bikes also have a torque sensor built-in, so you simply need to press a button to start moving, whether or not you’re pedaling.

In the United States, federal law states that an electric bike motor can’t power the bicycle at speeds above 20 mph.

So, do you have to pedal? It actually depends on the bike — some bikes sold in North America allow you to ride simply by turning the throttle (as mentioned above, no pedaling necessary),

but in Europe, laws require that you pedal.

But, even with bikes that do have a throttle,

you’ll likely need to pedal when climbing uphill or to preserve battery life.

Assitance or No Assitance?

Most e-bike systems allow you to choose the level of assistance you want, typically via a button.

More pedal-assist means less range (the distance you can travel), so it’s best to save the max assistance for steep inclines or hills so that you never have to worry about running out of battery when you’re far from home.

To preserve battery life, you can also turn the motor off entirely and ride unassisted, like a traditional bike.

It’s important to note that e-bikes tend to be heavier than regular bikes due to the weight of the parts, so it will require more physical effort and exercise.