As E-Bikes Speed Up, a Policy Dilemma Looms
The newest electric bikes can go much faster than pedal-only riders, which could spur a backlash from pedestrians and a crackdown from regulators.
When does an e-bike start being a motorcycle?
Photographer: Westend61/Westend61 via Getty Images
Earlier this month Dutch e-bike maker VanMoof unveiled its powerful new V model, which comes with two motors, a 700-watt engine, and a top speed of 37 miles per hour. With an expected price of $3,598 in the United States, the V is scheduled to hit the streets at the end of 2022.
For a bicycle, the V is fast — really fast. To offer a comparison, 37 mph exceeds the all-time record for average speed in a Tour de France time trial. Rather than call the V an e-bike, VanMoof describes it as a “hyperbike,” a term the company created. Cofounder Ties Carlier says that the V “will be the most efficient and comfortable way to get around cities like London, Tokyo and Los Angeles.”