The definitive guide to electric bikes by type

Key takeaways

• There is a wide variety of different types of electric bicycles, designed for different purposes and riding styles.

• Some categories are obviously different, some are quite closely related.

• If you're sure about what you're going to use your e-bike for, look at a bike specifically designed for that purpose. If you're less sure, go for an all-rounder.

Table of contents

Also known as cargo e bikes, e cargo bikes or just cargo bikes (although that's usually applied to non-assisted bikes without electric bike motors).

What they are

An electric bike with a bike frame specifically designed to carry lots of stuff, rather than just a rider. At one end of the scale you’ll find something that looks like a normal bike but with front and rear racks and maybe a big basket on the front. At the other end there are long-wheelbase cargo bikes with luggage platforms that’ll take 200kg loads. With a motor to help things along, cargo bikes are a genuinely useful option.

Why do I want one?

An electric cargo bike can do most of the things you’d normally use a car for because a normal bike isn’t up the job. Things like getting a week’s shopping from the supermarket, or a bag of compost from the garden centre, or taking toddlers to pre-school.

What to look for

There are lots of variations with cargo bikes. You’ll find short and long wheelbase models – longer bikes will take bigger loads but are harder to store. Some designs put the load platform low down and in front of the rider (often popular for carrying children, as you can see and talk to them more easily), some have the load behind. These “longtail” bikes are initially more familiar to ride, being like a normal bike but longer, while front-platform bikes may take some getting used to.

Cargo e-bikes are heavy, especially when laden, so look for high-torque mid drive motors to tackle steep inclines and hydraulic disc brakes for control and safety. Some models will take a second battery for extra power.

What they are

More of an application than a category, this one, as an appropriate and useful commuting bike varies depending on the length and nature of your trip to work. Some people will need to cover a couple of miles of city roads, in which case something in the urban or trekking categories is likely to fit the bill. Others may have longer trips on open roads or cycleways, perhaps better suited to an electric road or electric gravel bike.

Why do I want one?

Many trips to work are a little bit too long to walk and inconvenient on public transport, leaving driving as the default option. But taking a car on a daily short journey is expensive, wasteful and often slower than doing the same trip on two wheels. An electric bike gives you all the traffic-dodging ability of a bicycle but without the effort, so you can arrive at work ready to go.

What to look for

Almost any bike can be used for getting to and from work, but to get the right one you need to consider the route you’re typically riding and how much you need to carry. A more upright riding position is better in town or busy traffic, helping you to see where you’re going next. Something more sporty may suit you if you need to cover some distance on quieter roads. Watch out for range, although few cycle commutes will test the range of modern electric bikes (especially if you can charge up at work).

If your commute is mostly or entirely urban, you might want to consider a small-wheeled bike. They're not as good for distance (or bumpy roads) but their compact size makes them nimble and easy to park or store.

Whatever you choose, you’ll definitely want a bike with lights and mudguards for year-round use!

What they are

Gravel bikes are the current big thing in the unassisted bike world. At first glance a gravel bike looks a lot like a road bike, with drop handlebars and a similar frame profile. However, as the name suggests, gravel bikes are designed to be ridden off-road, with clearance for much bigger tyres than most road bikes and handling biased towards comfort and control rather than agility.

Why do I want one?

Gravel bikes have grown in popularity largely due to their versatility. They're not as fast as road bikes on the road, but there's not much in it, and they're not as capable as a mountain bike off-road but the trails have to become quite technically demanding before that becomes obvious. The ability to fit big tyres, mudguards and racks makes them great commuter e-bikes for longer trips and they work very well for touring too.

What to look for

As with road bikes, gravel e-bikes cover a broad spectrum of sub-types. Some are very performance-oriented, others are pitched more at adventure riding, carrying lightweight camping gear. The usual range/weight compromise is in play with gravel bikes too, with quite a spread of battery capacities on offer. If you want to cover long distances, or have lots of hills that you want more assistance with, go for a bigger battery. If you want to prioritise low weight and don't mind having to pedal harder, choose smaller.

What they are

An electric bike, but smaller! It's now possible to get electric power versions of the full range of sizes of children's bikes, from toddler-friendly balance bikes (with no pedals) right up to small adult sizes.

Why do I want one?

Children love the freedom that bikes bring, but they get tired quicker than adults. Adding a helping hand in the shape of electric motor assistance means that they can ride for longer, getting in more practice of the key skills and allowing the whole family to enjoy leisure rides even with a big range of fitness and endurance.

What to look for

Even some non-powered bikes can be a handful for children, so low weight is key. Adjustable power levels are useful too, just to keep speed under control (and to extend battery life). Some kid's e-bikes have phone apps so you can tweak the settings remotely.

Find out more in our guide to children's electric bikes.

Also known as eMTBs, mountain e bikes, e-mountain bikes and other similar variations.

What they are

Mountain bikes are designed for riding off road on rough trails. Originally they were ridden on whatever tracks and trails already existed, but there are now numerous trail centres and bike parks with purpose-built trails specifically for riding. These venues specialise in more technical trails (that is, harder to ride, with bigger features like drops and jumps).

Why do I want one?

Mountain biking is a lot of fun, but it's also potentially very hard work. When descending you have gravity to help you out, but getting back to the top can be a challenge especially on a bike with long suspension travel over rocks and through mud. If you're at a bike park then you can take advantage of an uplift service, but out in the wilds or at a trail centre, electric assistance makes climbing hills much easier.

Off road riding without motor assistance is of course entirely possible, but the addition of powerful motors means you can ride further!

What to look for

Mid drive motors are the best option for electric mountain bikes, using the bike's drivetrain to make the most of the power to conquer challenging terrains. Just watch the battery life - pedalling a mountain e bike with a flat battery isn't much fun.

eMTBs will feature front and usually rear suspension for a smoother rider on rugged terrain and hydraulic brakes for control on steep inclines.

What they are

A bike designed purely for going fast on good surfaces. Narrow slick tyres, drop handlebars, light weight - think Tour de France but with an electric motor.

Why do I want one?

If you're looking to ride for fun or fitness rather than for practical or utilitarian purposes, and you want to cover ground quickly, the road bike is the one for you.

A lot of road e-bikes are very subtle and at a glance you often can't tell whether a bike has a motor or not until it hits a climb and doesn't slow down.

What to look for

Electric bikes are always a trade-off between range and weight - bigger batteries are heavier. This is more obvious in bikes designed for low weight, like pure road bikes, as the battery is a greater proportion of the overall weight. The trend in road e-bikes is towards smaller, lighter batteries, on the grounds that people riding for fitness will be happy to use a bit less pedal assist and extend their range that way.

There is a confusing array of choices even within this category, with a spectrum between very racy (won't take proper mudguards or a rack, aggressively aerodynamic riding position) through to very relaxed (room for big tyres, ready for luggage, designed with more comfort in mind). The key thing with road bikes is correct fit. You're either looking to go fast, or cover big distances, or both, so a bike that fits well is key. This is a massive subject by itself, but a good shop is invaluable.

What they are

Trekking bikes are a very popular category in Europe, and for good reason. The combination of an upright riding position with flat (mountain bike style) handlebars with road-friendly tyres is already versatile, but trekking bikes also come with useful accessories like mudguards, a luggage rack and lights out of the box and ready to go.

Why do I want one?

Want to use your electric bike for several different jobs? A bit of commuting, some shopping, recreational rides, taking on holiday? The trekking bike is probably the most versatile category of e-bike - there'll be specialist options that do any one job a bit better, but at the expense of something else.

What to look for

Most electric bikes in this category are available with a step-through frame design, with a lower (or in some cases non-existent) top tube on the frame, making the bike much easier to get on and off.  

What they are

E-tricycles are pretty much like an electric bike, but with an extra wheel. There are two main variants. Conventional trikes have a single front wheel and a pair of wheels at the back, "tadpole" trikes have two wheels at the front and a single wheel at the back.

Why do I want one?

The main benefit of a trike rather than a bike is that it stands up by itself. You don't have to be moving to stay upright, you don't need to put your feet down at traffic lights or junctions and you don't need to rely on a sturdy kickstand when loading up. This stability makes trikes really useful for cargo or family transport, but also as adaptive transport for riders with disabilities that may make using a two-wheeled bike difficult or impossible.

What to look for

There's a lot of variety in this category, so you need to think about what you're going to be using your trike for and choose accordingly.

Even by the standards of electric bikes, trikes are big and heavy, so look for powerful motors with plenty of torque.

Electric folding bikes are also known as electric folders, e-folders and so on.

What they are

A motorised bike frame that rides (mostly) like a regular bike but also folds down to a compact, easy to store and carry package.

Why do I want one?

Folding bikes have long been a popular option for mixed-mode commuting, with part of the journey taking place on a train or car and the rest by bike. Carrying full-size bikes on trains is often annoying (if even possible), but a good folding e-bike is no more bulky than a large suitcase. Once outside the station, unfold the bike, ride effortlessly to your place of work and then refold it and take it in with you for security.

The compactness of a folded bike is also a great boon for anyone who has limited storage space. Bikes are best kept indoors for both reliability and security reasons, but if you live in an upper-storey flat then that's going to be tricky with a full-size bike. A folder, though, can be quickly collapsed, brought in with you and stashed in a corner.

What to look for

There's not much point having a folding bike if it doesn't fold easily. There are quite a few mechanisms out there and they all have their idiosyncrasies. It's definitely worth trying a few folds and unfolds before making a purchase.

Electric bikes are never going to be as light as conventional bikes, and the extra hinges and pivots in a folding bike tend to add weight too, so make sure you get something that's actually light enough to carry. Some bikes, like the legendary Brompton, have built-in rollers so you can push the folded frame around like a trolley.

What it is

You can of course ride any bike in towns or city streets, but urban bikes (which you may see referred to as town or city bikes) are designed specifically for shorter, but busy, routes. There's a lot of crossover between these bikes and commuter bikes.

Why do I want one?

Your journeys involve a mix of roads and cycle paths in a town or city, dealing with junctions, pedestrians, motorists, other riders and a whole range of unpredictable obstacles.

What to look for

The distinguising characteristic of an uban e-bike is a fairly upright riding position giving you a good view ahead so you get more notice of what's happening up front to give you plenty of time to respond accordingly and help with navigating city streets. It's not as efficient a riding position as you'll find on a road, gravel or even trekking bike, but in an urban environment comfort and safety is paramount.

Most people wanting to ride e-bikes in town are likely to want to carry something, so a luggage rack is a useful and common accessory, as are mudguards and lights for all-weather, all-season use.

Frequently asked questions

How does an electric bike work?

Electric bikes are very similar to traditional bikes, with all of a regular bike's features including pedals. The difference is the addition of powerful motors and batteries to give electric assistance. As you pedal, the motor power supplements your own so you can ride further with less effort and a minimal carbon footprint.

Are electric bikes legal?

Different territories have different rules, but in the UK and EU, to be considered an electric bicycle a bike must have a motor power no greater than 250W constant output and the motor assistance must cut out above 25kph (15.5mph). If an e bike exceeds this or the motor runs without pedal assist, it's classed as a motorbike and needs registration and insurance.

How much does an electric bike cost?

You can get a useful e bike for a few hundred pounds, although approach anything very cheap with caution. At the top end, the sky's the limit - high-end electric mountain bikes from Scott, Specialized and others can run to £14,000.

What are the different kinds of electric bike motors?

There are two broad categories of motor. Mid drive motors, also known as frame motors or bottom bracket motors, are mounted in the bike's frame and drive through the bike's drivetrain, letting you use the bike's gears to help with steep hills. This makes the most of powerful motors.

The other category is the hub drive motor, which sits at the centre of the wheel and therefore drives the wheel directly. A hub motor may be found in the front wheel or rear wheel, depending on the design of the bike.

Summary

Electric bikes have revolutionized the way we think about cycling, offering a range of styles to suit every rider's needs, from electric mountain bikes for rugged terrains to commuter e bikes for navigating city streets. With powerful motors and efficient battery life, e biking provides a sustainable alternative to traditional cycling and driving, making it easier to tackle steep inclines and longer distances. Whether you're looking for an electric cargo bike to replace your car for daily errands or an electric road bike for leisure riding, the right electric bike can transform your journey into an enjoyable and eco-friendly adventure.

Embrace the future of cycling and explore the world of electric bikes today. Discover the perfect e bike model that aligns with your riding style and needs, and enjoy the freedom, convenience, and sustainability that comes with electric biking. It's time to redefine your commute, leisure rides, and off-road adventures with the power of electric assistance. Join the e biking revolution and ride towards a greener and more exciting future!