electric bike

noun

variants or e-bike or electric bicycle
plural electric bikes or e-bikes or electric bicycles
: a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that may be activated in order to assist with or replace pedaling
Just like any bike, electric bikes come with a ton of different technical specs that you may or may not care about.Adrienne So
For many years, e-bikes carried the stigma of being vehicles for lazy pedalers and seniors. The bikes draw power from a battery and motor to make pedaling significantly easier. You can also accelerate with the press of a button, transforming cycling from a strenuous exercise into a joy ride.Brian X. Chen

Examples of electric bike in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many electric bikes and scooters sold in the U.S. in recent years may contain lithium-ion batteries that have not been approved by consumer safety laboratories, and more laws and regulations on e-bike batteries are needed in the U.S., fire officials have warned. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 Rent classic bikes at one of many rental agencies up and down the highway, or go for an easy-breezy electric bike from Pedego 30A to roll across the sand or the streets with no problem. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 Jennifer Robbins holds up a diagram to a new owner of an electric bike, a 13-year-old who just got a Christmas gift that can reach speeds upward of 25 mph. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 In response to the fatal collision, Key Biscayne officials voted late last week on an emergency basis to ban electric bikes and electric scooters from the island for 60 days. Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Frequently Asked Questions How fast can an electric bike go? Nathan Borchelt, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024 Some electric bikes only offer pedal-assist (the battery augments your pedal power) while others can go fully powered. Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 The next big trend in electric bikes is micro-mobility, which refers to tiny personal vehicles. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023 Yes — otherwise the utility of an electric bike would be severely limited. Nathan Borchelt, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electric bike.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of electric bike was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near electric bike

Cite this Entry

“Electric bike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electric%20bike. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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