Electric bicycle

Electric bike" redirects here. For electrically powered motorcycles, see Electric motorcycles and scooters.

An electric bicycle, also known as an e-bike, is a bicycle with an integrated electric motor which can be used for propulsion. There are a great variety of different types of e-bikes available worldwide, from e-bikes that only have a small motor to assist the rider's pedal-power (i.e. pedelecs) to somewhat more powerful e-bikes which tend closer to moped-style functionality: all however retain the ability to be pedalled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles. E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and the lighter varieties can travel up to 25 to 32 km/h (16 to 20 mph), depending on the laws of the country in which they are sold, while the more high-powered varieties can often do in excess of 45 km/h (28 mph). In some markets, such as Germany, they are gaining in popularity and taking some market share away from conventional bicycles,^[1] while in others, such as China, they are replacing fossil fuel-powered mopeds and small motorcycles.^[2][3]

Depending on local laws, many e-bikes (e.g. pedelecs) are legally classified as bicycles rather than mopeds or motorcycles, so they are not subject to the more stringent laws regarding their certification and operation, unlike the more powerful two-wheelers which are often classed as electric motorcycles. E-bikes can also be defined separately and treated as a specific vehicle type in many areas of legal jurisdiction.
E-bikes are the electric motor-powered versions of motorized bicycles which have been around since the late 19th century.

China

China has experienced an explosive growth of sales of non-assisted e-bikes including scooter type, with annual sales jumping from 56,000 units in 1998 to over 21 million in 2008,^[54] and reaching an estimated fleet of 120 million e-bikes as of early 2010.^[2][55] This boom was triggered by Chinese local governments' efforts to restrict motorcycles in city centers to avoid traffic disruption and accidents. By late 2009 motorcycles are banned or restricted in over ninety major Chinese cities.^[54] Users began replacing traditional bicycles and motorcycles and, in e-bike became an alternative to commuting by car.^[2] Nevertheless, road safety concerns continue as around 2,500 e-bike related deaths were registered in 2007.^[55] As of late 2009 ten cities have also banned or imposed restrictions on e-bikes on the same grounds as motorcycles. Among these cities are Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Foshan, Changzhou, and Dongguang.^[54][55]
China is the world's leading manufacturer of e-bikes, with 22.2 million units produced in 2009. Production is concentrated in five regions, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Shanghai.^[56] China exported 370,000 e-bikes in 2009.^[57]