Electric bikes, often simply called eBikes, are bicycles equipped with an electric motor to assist pedaling. The motor is powered by a rechargeable battery mounted on the bike. To be classified as an eBike, the motor has to provide assistance rather than simply propelling the bike by itself.

To get that assistance, you generally still have to pedal. The amount of power delivered by the motor depends on how hard you pedal and the selected level of support.

Electric bikes are naturally heavier than regular bikes due to the motor and battery. To carry an electric bike on your vehicle, you will need a specialized bike rack that can be installed on the hitch, i.e. a hitch mount bike rack. Roof and trunk racks are either not stout enough or will make it difficult to load the bike.

eBike Classes and What They Mean

There are three main classes of eBike:

• Class 1 eBikes have motors that only kick in when you're pedaling. The pedal assist stops helping when you reach 20 MPH.

• Class 2 eBikes also have a pedal-assist mode up to 20 MPH, but they also come with a throttle-power mode that doesn't require any pedaling.

• Class 3 eBikes have a motor that kicks in when you pedal, but it stops helping at 28 MPH.

eBike Rules and Regulations

The laws surrounding eBikes differ from state to state, and may even differ in various local areas. The class of bike that you have might also affect the laws and where you can ride. It's always a good idea to check your local laws before choosing an eBike. As long as your eBike falls into one of the three classes mentioned above, you generally won't need any type of license or insurance.

Choosing An eBike

Electric bikes have exploded in popularity recently, mainly because they're a lot of fun and enable you to ride faster and further than you could on a regular bike. You can more easily carry loads on them and you may even be able to replace using a car for short trips and commutes.

Like with regular bikes, there are different types of eBikes for different types of riding. This includes mountain bikes, road bikes, recreational bikes, and bikes to haul cargo.

For a quality eBike, you'll likely need to spend somewhere in the range of $1,500 to $2,500 for an entry-level bike. The average price is around $2,000, and basic bikes are around $1,000, but most high-end bikes can cost as much as $6,000 or more.

Even though you can find eBikes for around $500, it's generally not a good idea to buy a cheap model. The reason is that eBikes require higher-end and more durable components to provide better braking for a heavier bike and a drivetrain. A cheap model is likely to skimp on the quality of these parts.

How To Choose Bike Racks For Electric Bikes

One thing about eBikes is that they are heavier than regular bikes on average. Regular bikes don't have batteries or motors and typically have lighter frames. When looking for an eBike bike rack, it's important to focus on hitch racks and the weight that they're rated for. Roof racks are too hard to load, and trunk racks typically aren't rated for enough weight.

The best bike rack for electric bikes is one that is mounted on the hitch of your vehicle and features a platform rack. Platform racks can handle a variety of frame styles and they typically have a greater weight capacity. The other type is a hanging style, but these aren't as versatile for eBikes. If you have a step-through frame, you'll need an adapter to use a hanging rack.

When choosing a hitch bike rack for electric bikes, it's important to check your hitch tongue weight capacity. This is the maximum weight your hitch can support. In other words, the weight of your bikes and your bike rack can't exceed your vehicle's hitch tongue weight capacity.

Check your bike's tire width and wheelbase to make sure that it's within the rack's maximum limits for tire width and wheelbase. You may need to specifically look at a bike rack for fat tire electric bikes.

Tips For Transporting eBikes

It's a good idea to remove the battery when you transport your eBike. Not only will this make it lighter and easier to load, but it helps discourage theft. Plus, storing your battery inside your vehicle keeps it warmer, which is better for battery life. Not all eBikes have removable batteries, but most do, so this might be a buying consideration.

When you load the rack, lift one wheel of the bike at a time. Lift the front wheel into the tray first, then roll it forward as you lift the rear wheel into the tray.

When transporting your eBike, it's a good idea to cover it to prevent weather damage. It's also important to fully secure the bike and you should generally use a lock.

Enthuze 2 E-Bike Rack

The Enthuze bike rack for eBikes is capable of holding two electric bikes at 100 pounds each. It fits 2-inch receivers and features heavy-duty four-inch wide trays that can be adjusted for many types of eBike, including road and mountain bikes.

The Enthuze eBike rack is easy to fold up when not in use and comes with a one-year warranty. This is a platform hitch mount rack style, which is ideal for transporting electric bikes.

Enthuze also offers class 3 receiver hitches to mount your new eBike rack. These hitches are designed for a wide variety of uses, including bike racks and trailers. Our class 3 hitches can support up to 525 pounds of tongue weight.

Rely on Enthuze for standard bike racks and eBike racks to transport your equipment. We make a wide variety of truck accessories and equipment, including bike racks for eBikes and receiver hitches to support them. All Enthuze products are rigorously tested for the highest quality and durability.