electric bike canada

Get to know Electric Bikes 

Electric bikes are essentially normal bicycles, often heavy duty ones, to which an electric motor, battery and control system have been added.  The E-bike is pedaled like a normal bike, but the battery and motor can speed it along like a moped or scooter, only without polluting exhaust.  It is much more silent as well, which gives the rider the peace of mind of not causing much noise pollution like motorcycles or Vespas. 

But How Fast Are They? 

Most electric bikes can easily do 30 kph. 

What are the Road Rules for Electric Bikes in Canada? 

Canadian electric bike users sometimes get lost with the rules.  There are certain road rules and regulations for electric bicycle usage and here are a few of them:  

E-bike riders are required to wear a helmet at all times 

The maximum speed is 30 km per hour 

If your e-bike is moving under the power of its electric motor, you must be in the car lanes, in bike lanes you have to be pedaling.  It is a $305 fine if you are caught driving the electric bike in a bicycle lane with the motor running in the city of Toronto. 

Motor-less bicycle rules apply when you are just pedaling 

Motor cannot have power of more than 500 Watts or it will be automatically placed in another category of vehicle other than bicycles. 

Why ride an Electric bike? 

The best thing about electric bikes in Canada is getting from place to place with little or no sweat or effort.  The problem with bicycle commuting is being a sweaty mess when you arrive at the office, especially bad if there is no where to shower.  On an electric bicycle, you can work just hard enough to get your heart pumping, but let the motor take over so that you are still fresh when you get to work. 

Conventional bikes are unseen or ignored by motorists, but e-bikes are just enough bigger with safety features like side-view mirrors that riders can feel more secure. 

They are friendly to the environment because their battery powered motors do not expel any polluting exhaust. 

Since the electric motor is so quiet, the rider enjoys a quiet and non-polluting ride with all the benefits of a scooter or moped. 

A scooter or Vespa requires the operator to be licensed, but anyone who can ride a bike can get on an e-bike and go. There is no license required in Canada. 

What Types of Electric Bikes Are Available? 

There are various different companies out there offering slight variations on the basic electric bike model in Canada.  Each builder tries to make the most efficient E-bike they can, but each defines efficiency differently. Some are load carriers and others are speed demons. 

Your electric bike choice can be as much about personal style as it is efficient transport.  No matter what your style or budget, there is an electric bike for you.  For more info visit us at http://emmo.ca/