The cost of an electric bike can vary widely between $1,000 to over $10,000. Generally, though, most electric bikes start around $1,500 and go up from there. Price largely depends on the quality of components and the preferred style of riding.
Class 1–3 of Electric Bicycles
The three class electric bike system is garnering public attention in recent times with bicycle advocacy groups like People for Bikes pushing for more and better access for riders. Each class has it's own pros and cons.
- Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assisted and do not have a throttle.
- Class 2 e-bikes are throttle-assisted, having a maximum speed of 20 mph.
- Class 3 e-bikes can be throttle-assisted, pedal assisted, or both. With a maximum speed of 28mph and a speedometer required these bike are subject to more rules and State laws.
For a more in depth look at the classes of electric bikes check out our article "What is an E-Bike?"
Price Ranges
Electric bikes can range from $1,000 to more than $10,000.
- E-bikes under the $1,000 bracket call for repeated visits to the local bike shop due to a number of assembly and maintenance costs that will have to be incurred, time and again. Buyer beware! Many shops (like us here at Bicycle Warehouse) don't service these bikes because of liability concerns.
- When purchasing an e-bike under the $1,000-$1,500 price bracket, one is most likely to purchase a vehicle with a rather unknown brand name. Most of the e-bikes within this range include mechanical disc brakes and a hub motor.
- An e-bike falling in the $1,500 to $2,000 price range is likely to have a dash of bling with higher end bike displays. Brands like our friends at Aventon have phone apps that can perform diagnostics and keep track of your rides. These e-bike models have a better quality of wheels, brakes, and drivetrains, along with some mid-drives.
- Performance gains really start to kick in within the $2,000 to $3,000 price range. As the price tag goes higher, you will get access to torque sensors in your e-bikes. Other striking features include top-notch drivetrains and internally geared hubs. E-bike riders may also be delighted to get lighter weight construction, along with powerful hydraulic brakes.
- Next up, experts refer to the $3,000 - $5,000 range as the ‘sweet’ spot, in terms of the vehicle’s premium quality in a range of aspects. If you are purchasing a commuter bike, you will be served with a plethora of attachments such as display units, racks, and lights. There is also a possibility of getting your hands on full-suspension e-bikes.
- The last category of $5,000 and up is the end-game of e-bikes. The epitome of class and quality of the key leaders in the bikes on the market, high end brands like Giant and Santa Cruz have thrown their hat into the world of electric bikes in recent years.
The Quality of Components
The quality of e-bikes can be best examined through their power ratings, electric motors and speeds.
The power ratings are synonymous with the ease of performance and the efficiency of the vehicle. Costlier e-bikes have more powerful motors that can cover large distances with greater speeds, as compared to their more affordable counterparts. Similarly, if you are someone who is after a bike equipped with eye-catching accessories such as baskets, gleaming lights and LED technologies, you should also be ready to pay additional costs.
Ensuring your bike is equipped with the right components for your riding style becomes especially important the more specialized the e-bike. Electric mountain bikes (often referred to as eMTBs), especially downhill bikes, need more powerful motors and batteries to help trail riders skip the lift, summit to the top of the trail system and fly back down.
Electric road bikes usually prefer lighter, components and less powerful electric assist to give riders that extra boost as the miles add up.
The Frame Material
The pricing of e-bikes is also dependent upon the frame material and the final weight of the bike.
E-bike frames that have manufactured with dynamically-shaped aluminum alloy frames are sturdy and lightweight.
Lighter still carbon frames have long dominated series road and mountain bike markets have made their way to electric bikes. These are typically high-priced, and help counteract the additional weight of the motor making a carbon electric bike easier to maneuver.
Battery Size
Riders who are enthusiastic about riding a bike that goes long distances per charge should look forward to investing in e-bikes with more powerful batteries. While this may seemingly be a more expensive choice, the battery has greater watt-hours than the average battery and can travel to the farthest points in just one charge.
We hope you enjoyed our article about what goes in to the price of e-bikes. As always if you have any questions feel free to reach out to us via chat or e-mail so we can help you find your dream bike.
