Electric bikes are more popular than ever, and chances are good that you’ve seen a few gliding around where you live. Although U.S. retail sales declined slightly in 2023 over the previous year, they were still almost $808 million by the end of 2023—more than 238 percent higher than in 2019, according to Circana, a market research company.
In this article
- Best Electric Bikes: Class 1 Class 2 Folding Mountain
- How to Choose
The ever-increasing popularity of electric bikes isn’t surprising. They make riding easier, and arguably more fun for many people, serving as a healthy recreational outlet and frugal means of transportation.
Eleven percent of Americans have ridden an electric bike over the past year, according to a recentnationally representative survey(PDF) conducted by CRof 2,035 U.S. adults (February 2024). The survey also found that, among those who had ridden an e-bike or an e-scooter in the past year,fun and leisure activities wereone of thereasons71 percent chose to ride an e-bike or e-scooter.
With many people looking for the best electric bike for their needs and budget, Consumer Reports continues to test new models. Shoppers now have our expert guidance on a range of models, including our picks for the best electric bikes. CR’s electric bike ratings are based on each model’s range, comfort, and overall usability.
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There’s a lot to know before you buy an electric bike. For starters, regulations differ from state to state, with some states requiring an operator’s license or a helmet to use one on public roads. Where you can ride your electric bike may be limited, too, as powered bicycles could be prohibited from bike-only trails. Also, e-bikes tend to be more expensive than conventional bikes, so it pays to make sure it will work for you before buying one.
CR’s evaluations of dozens of models break their characteristics down into the areas that are most likely to affect the rider: range, acceleration, hill climbing, speed control response, and how the bike performs on just pedal power when the battery is out of juice.
The full ratings from our latest electric bike evaluations are available to Consumer Reports members. Below, we have listed the highest-rated models in four categories from our testing program.
Best Electric Bikes: Class 1
Best Electric Bikes: Class 2
Best Electric Bikes: Folding
Best Electric Bikes: Mountain
More on Electric Bikes
See our full electric bike ratings and buying guide for details on e-bike classifications and types as well as shopping advice.
How to Choose an Electric Bike
Before you spring for an e-bike, there are a few things you should consider.
Are electric bikes allowed where you live? City and state laws regulating electric bikes vary by locale, so it’s a good idea to check to see whether they’re allowed where you want to ride, whether that’s on public roads, bicycle paths, or trails.
Do you really want or need the added expense, complexity, and weight of an electric motor, rechargeable battery, and the electronics that control them? It can be a great convenience, but it does come at a cost.
Which kind of electric bike is best for you? There are different types. Some models require the rider to pedal in order for the electric motor to kick in, while others have a throttle lever that operates the motor. You should also decide which style of bike—commuter, cruiser, road, mountain, folding—best suits your needs.
There are three classes of e-bikes: Class 1, 2, and 3. Class 1 bikes require pedal effort to activate the electric motor, with e-assist topping out at 20 mph. Class 2 bikes also provide e-assist up to 20 mph, and they can power the bike using a hand-operated throttle lever up to 28 mph. Class 3 bikes may or may not have a throttle control, and electric power cuts off at 28 mph.
As with any bike, it’s a good idea to go to a local retailer so that you can ride each model you’re interested in. Each bike has a different feel, and you want to make sure the sizing and riding position work for you.
“Electric bikes tend to be more expensive than conventional bicycles, so most people will probably want a good all-arounder,” says Rich Handel, the engineer who leads CR’s electric bike testing program. “We especially liked the mid-drive models that apply electric power where there would normally only be pedals. That setup, plus a bunch of gears to choose from, made for a bike that was almost as good without electric assist as with it. But for pure fun, it’s hard to beat a Class 2 electric bike. Without needing to shift gears, their throttle controls and acceleration ability make them exciting to ride.”
Benjamin Preston
Benjamin Preston has been a reporter with the Consumer Reports autos team since 2020, focusing on new and used car buying, auto insurance, car maintenance and repair, and electric bikes. He has covered cars since 2012 for the New York Times, Time, the BBC, the Guardian, Road & Track, Car and Driver, Jalopnik, and others. Outside CR, he maintains his own small fleet of old cars and serves as a volunteer firefighter, specializing in car crash response and vehicle extrication.
