ABEA Statement for AP Styles E-bike Terminology

American Bicycling Education Association (ABEA)
April 8, 2026

To: Standards & Style Editors, Associated Press
Subject: Proposed Stylebook Clarification – Use of “E-Bike”

This document is provided as supporting reference material for the proposed AP Style clarification regarding the term “e-bike.”

Purpose

To improve accuracy and consistency in reporting, ABEA proposes a clarification to AP Style regarding the use of the term “e-bike.”

Issue

The term “e-bike” is increasingly used in news coverage to describe a wide range of electric two-wheeled vehicles, including high-powered devices that do not meet the legal definition of an electric bicycle.

This creates ambiguity in reporting and may conflate legally defined electric bicycles with fundamentally different vehicle types.

Why This Matters

When higher-powered or non-compliant electric vehicles are described as “e-bikes,” reporting can unintentionally misclassify the type of vehicle involved in an incident.

This can lead to:

Misattribution in coverage, where incidents involving non-compliant vehicles are understood as involving legal electric bicycles

Reduced clarity for readers, particularly when legality, access (roads vs. off-highway), or safety standards differ

Policy and public response based on imprecise terminology, rather than the specific vehicle type involved

Clear and consistent terminology helps ensure that reporting accurately reflects the vehicle in question and supports informed public and policy-maker understanding.

Proposed Stylebook Entry

e-bike (electric bicycle):
Use “e-bike” only for vehicles that meet the legal definition of an electric bicycle. In general, this includes vehicles that:

have fully operable pedals
are equipped with an electric motor of 750 watts or less
are speed-limited (typically 20–28 mph depending on classification)

Do not use “e-bike” to describe higher-powered electric vehicles that lack pedals or exceed these limits.

For those vehicles, use more precise terms such as:

electric motorcycle
electric dirt bike
off-highway electric vehicle

When relevant, clarify whether the vehicle is street legal under applicable law.

Rationale

Accuracy: “E-bike” is derived from “electric bicycle,” a term defined in federal and state law.

Clarity: Distinguishing between vehicle types improves precision in reporting.

Consistency: Aligns terminology with widely adopted legal and regulatory frameworks.

Supporting Material

A summary of federal and state definitions of electric bicycles is included as an attachment for reference.

Respectfully submitted,
American Bicycling Education Association, Inc.

ABEA was founded in 2014. Our mission is to make a difference in people’s lives by empowering them to use their bikes to go anywhere they want, safely and confidently. Our goal is to help our communities become more livable and sustainable by promoting a civil and cooperative environment on our roads through complementary education and infrastructure design.

Legal Definitions of Electric Bicycles – Federal and State Framework

1. Federal Definition (United States)

The term “electric bicycle” is derived from the federal definition of a “low-speed electric bicycle,” established by Public Law 107-319 (2002) and codified at 15 U.S.C. § 2085.

Under federal law, a low-speed electric bicycle is defined as:

A two- or three-wheeled vehicle
With fully operable pedals
Equipped with an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 horsepower)
Whose maximum speed on a paved, level surface, when powered solely by the motor and ridden by an operator weighing 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour

This definition establishes the baseline distinction between electric bicycles and higher-powered motor vehicles.

2. State-Level Classification System (Three-Class Framework)

To support consistent regulation at the state level, a three-class system for electric bicycles was developed in 2014 by industry stakeholders, including PeopleForBikes. This framework has been adopted, in whole or in part, by the majority of U.S. states.

The standard classifications are as follows:

Class 1 Electric Bicycle

Motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling (pedal-assist)
Assistance ceases at 20 miles per hour

Class 2 Electric Bicycle

Motor may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle (throttle-assisted)
Assistance ceases at 20 miles per hour

Class 3 Electric Bicycle

Motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling
Assistance ceases at 28 miles per hour

Across adopting states, these vehicles are generally regulated as bicycles, not motor vehicles, and are granted corresponding rights and responsibilities for roadway and, where permitted, shared-use path access.

3. Distinction from Higher-Powered Electric Vehicles

Electric two-wheeled vehicles that do not meet the above criteria—such as those that:

Lack operable pedals
Exceed 750 watts of motor power
Are not speed-limited within the thresholds above

do not meet the legal definition of an electric bicycle under federal or state frameworks.

These vehicles are typically classified under separate categories (e.g., electric motorcycles or off-highway vehicles) and are subject to different regulatory requirements, including restrictions on roadway and bikeway access.

4. Example: State Clarification (California)

Recent state-level actions further illustrate this distinction. For example, California has clarified that certain high-powered electric two-wheeled vehicles fall outside the definition of electric bicycles and are instead categorized separately under state vehicle code.

Such clarifications reinforce the importance of distinguishing between legally defined electric bicycles and other electric vehicle types in reporting and public communication.

Conclusion

The term “e-bike” is a contraction of “electric bicycle,” a term with a clear and consistent legal foundation at both the federal and state levels.

Maintaining alignment with these definitions supports accuracy, clarity, and consistency in terminology.