CSO COLLECTIVES

RESEARCH

A small snippet of the ongoing information gathering behind the creation of the film.

classsystem1
Condensed into a graph, above shows current classification system in the United States for electric bikes. Class one through three are currently considered legal, although some regions but restrictions on where some of these may be ridden.

E-bikes specifically have been split up into a three category classification. The first class of e-bikes are pedal assisted and do not exceed 20 mph. The second class also maxes out at 20 mph but can be pedal assisted as well as throttle power for getting up to speed. The final class, class three, can reach up to 28mph with pedal assistance. 

Anything outside of this three class classification system is no longer considered an e-bike.

Glossary of important terms:

  • Protected Bike Lane: A bike lane separated from car traffic by barriers or physical distance
  • UL Certification: A certification that determines an e-bike has been tested by the independent safety organization UL Solutions to ensure its electrical system meets the safety standards, primarily under the UL 2849 standard. 
  • Power Assist System (PAS) or Pedal-Assist: A feature found on e-bikes that provides motorized assistance while the rider pedals. Its system measures cadence and torque, which deliver electric power to the motor, causing pedaling to become assisted.
  • Watt (W): A unit of power that is used to measure the rate at which energy is used or produced. Higher wattage motors consume more energy but deliver faster acceleration and greater torque.
  • Infolithium: Refers to the broader information and technology surrounding lithium-based batteries. This can include data, battery production, safety, usage, and disposal.
  • E-Moto (Electric Motorcycles / Mopeds): A fully electric motorbike that has two wheels and does not have pedals. It is powered by a rechargeable battery and designed for high speeds and long distances. Their speeds can vary from 28.1 – 75MPH, and they are powerful.
  • Electric micromobility (EMM): An electricity-powered personal transportation device designed for short-distance travel. They are different from standard micro mobility devices because they rely on an electric motor to assist movement, making them faster and less physically demanding than human-powered vehicles. Devices include e-bikes, e-scooters, e-wheelchairs, e-skateboards, e-mopeds, and many more.

This short video is a small piece of the larger narrative.

Created by CSO Collectives.