electric bike

noun

variants or e-bike

ˈē-ˌbīk 

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

The 75-year-old Democrat from bike-friendly Portland, Oregon, is introducing a new bill that aims to re-shore domestic bike manufacturing by stealing it back from China while also helping protect electric bikes from high tariffs that could put them out of reach for many Americans. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 6 June 2024

Five Citi Bike riders died last year in total, four on electric bikes. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2024

Bluejay’s Premiere Edition electric bike is made for paved bike paths. —Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2024

Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART) is a paved path for walking, running, biking and skating throughout Traverse City and beyond. Brick Wheels Bike Shop rents road bikes, electric bikes and accessories such as trailers. —Stacey Nield Brugeman, New York Times, 24 May 2024

What to know about electric bikes, from battery safety to pedaling The organization also offers the suggestion to replace helmets once the helmet has undergone significant impact. —Mason Leib, ABC News, 22 May 2024

Although there are plenty of restaurants on site, the hotel’s free shuttle service is available for transfers to their private beach, or grab an electric bike or mini-Moke to cruise down on your own. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024

California initiated a $10 million statewide program in 2023 that offers voucher incentives to low-income residents for purchasing electric bikes. —Christopher R. Cherry, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024

At about $2000, the Roam electric bike was twice the price of one with a normal combustion engine. —Lenny Rashid Ruvaga, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above