How fast does an electric bicycle go?
An electric bicycle is a sustainable and efficient means of transportation. An important aspect of an electric bicycle is the speed at which it can travel. Thanks to electric pedal assistance, an electric bicycle can go faster than a regular bicycle, making it a popular choice for people who want to travel quickly without too much effort. But how fast does an electric bicycle go? In this article, we take a closer look at the speed of an electric bicycle and also compare it with a speed pedelec.
How fast does an electric bicycle go?
An electric bicycle provides pedal assistance up to 25 km per hour. The assistance automatically stops once 25 km/h is reached. Can you go faster than 25 km per hour on an electric bicycle? Yes, you certainly can. However, you must do so using your own power, which is not easy, as an electric bicycle is considerably heavier than a regular bicycle.
The average speed of an electric bicycle can also be influenced by the route you take (flat terrain, uphill, downhill) and weather conditions (for example, wind). Below is an overview of the average speed of an electric bicycle:
- 25 km per hour (without wind)
- 24.7 km per hour with headwind
- 26.4 km per hour with tailwind
If you would like to achieve higher speeds on your bike, for example for your daily commute, we can recommend a speed pedelec.
How fast does a speed pedelec go?
Buying a speed pedelec ? A speed pedelec provides pedal assistance up to 45 km per hour. Here as well, the pedal assistance automatically stops once you reach 45 km per hour. The speed of a speed pedelec is therefore considerably higher when compared to the speed of an electric bicycle.
Speed pedelec vs. electric bicycle
In a previous article, what is a speed pedelec , we already outlined the main differences between an electric bicycle and a speed pedelec. We briefly summarize them again here:
- An electric bicycle reaches a speed of 25 km per hour with pedal assistance, while a speed pedelec reaches 45 km per hour.
- There is no minimum age requirement to ride an electric bicycle. To ride a speed pedelec in Belgium, you must be at least 16 years old.
- There is no helmet obligation when riding an electric bicycle; if you ride a speed pedelec, you are required to wear a speed pedelec helmet.
- An electric bicycle does not need a license plate; a speed pedelec does. A speed pedelec must be registered with the DIV.
- You do not need a special driving license to ride an electric bicycle. If you want to ride a speed pedelec on public roads, you need at least a moped license. You can read all about this in our article on the speed pedelec driving license.
Calculating the average speed
There are different ways to calculate the average speed of an electric bicycle. You can do this based on hours or based on minutes.
Calculating average speed using hours
Use the distance you have traveled and divide it by the number of hours it took you to complete the route. For example:
If you cycled 40 kilometers in 3 hours, then your average cycling speed is 13.3 km per hour.
Calculating average speed using minutes
You can also calculate the average speed based on the number of minutes you cycled a route with your electric bicycle. First, calculate the average speed per minute, then convert this to an average speed per hour. For example:
If you cycle 12 kilometers in 32 minutes, your average speed is (12/32) 0.375 km per minute. If you multiply this by 60 minutes, you obtain the average speed per hour. In this case, 22.5 km per hour.
Safe cycling at high speeds
An electric bicycle can therefore reach fairly high speeds. It is therefore important to consider your own safety. Certain elements are mandatory, such as bicycle lights (at night) and reflectors. A helmet is not compulsory, but we strongly recommend wearing one.
Need personal advice?
Do you want to buy an electric bicycle but are still hesitating between different models? Feel free to visit one of our bicycle shops or contact us. Our motivated staff will be happy to assist you.
Did you know that through Cyclobility you can easily take out an interest-free loan for your electric bicycle? Simulate your bicycle loan here and discover how much you would need to repay each month for your dream bike.
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(*) savings calculated based on current interest rate of ${ (settings.jkp * 100).toFixed(2) }%. It is only possible to take out a loan if the bicycle is purchased in a Cyclobility store and it cannot be combined with other promotions..Frequently asked questions about the speed of an electric bicycle
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With an electric bicycle, it takes about 17 minutes to cover a distance of 7 kilometers. This may be slightly more or less depending on your route and the weather conditions.
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The pedal assistance of an electric bicycle stops at 25 km per hour. However, there are no speed restrictions, so you may ride faster under your own power if possible.
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With an electric bicycle, it takes about 2 hours or 120 minutes to cover a distance of 50 kilometers. This may be slightly more or less depending on your route and the weather conditions.
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With an electric bicycle, it takes about 36 minutes to cover a distance of 15 kilometers. This may be slightly more or less depending on your route and the weather conditions.
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With an electric bicycle, it takes about 24 minutes to cover a distance of 10 kilometers. This may be slightly more or less depending on your route and the weather conditions.
