Must a bike have a drive motor to be called an ebike?

[Sparky731]

Or, what do you call a battery-electrified bike without a drive motor?
If not already, soon acoustic bikes will be manufactured with a battery to enable smart, internet technologies, e.g., Bosch’s Smart System.
Is it presumptuous to assume that only bikes with an electronic propulsion system be classified as an ebike?
Just curious as to where this nomenclature will go as electronic-enabled bikes develop.

 

[RunForTheHills]

Is someone with a battery powered watch a bionic man? You have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[6zfshdb]

Bicycles have had electric lights with batteries and generators for many years and are not considered to be e-bikes. Most e-bike regulations refer to electrified propulsion.

 

[retiredNH]

Or, what do you call a battery-electrified bike without a drive motor?
If not already, soon acoustic bikes will be manufactured with a battery to enable smart, internet technologies, e.g., Bosch’s Smart System.
Is it presumptuous to assume that only bikes with an electronic propulsion system be classified as an ebike?
Just curious as to where this nomenclature will go as electronic-enabled bikes develop.

"Electronic propulsion"? You mean "electric". Electronics are for the controls. So yes, if it has "electric propulsion", it is an ebike. Bosch's Smart System is an integrated motor, battery and controller system. It's not designed to be used with a regular bike.

 

[Sparky731]

So you're saying that as soon as you attach your smartphone or GPS on your bike, it should be considered an ebike?

Not just those devices. But with consideration for the advancing electronic features that could evolve in the biking world over the next years, we may need to be less myopic to just the propulsion component.
That said, I do concede that EV designations today only include motorized vehicles.

 

[retiredNH]

We've been putting electrical things on bikes for a long time. I had a generator hooked to a light over 45 years ago. I put a GPS device on my bike 20 years ago. Neither thing made my bikes ebikes. These were "advancing electronic features" back then. But they weren't game changers like electric motor drives are. Electric motor drives are a real step change, hence the new name.

So perhaps you can explain what I'm "myopic" about?

 

[Gionnirocket]

Or, what do you call a battery-electrified bike without a drive motor?
If not already, soon acoustic bikes will be manufactured with a battery to enable smart, internet technologies, e.g., Bosch’s Smart System.
Is it presumptuous to assume that only bikes with an electronic propulsion system be classified as an ebike?
Just curious as to where this nomenclature will go as electronic-enabled bikes develop.

I think if you have battery on it with alligator clips to your nipples it would be considered an ebike since you are pedaling and electrons are flowing.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Or, what do you call a battery-electrified bike without a drive motor?
If not already, soon acoustic bikes will be manufactured with a battery to enable smart, internet technologies, e.g., Bosch’s Smart System.
Is it presumptuous to assume that only bikes with an electronic propulsion system be classified as an ebike?
Just curious as to where this nomenclature will go as electronic-enabled bikes developridiculous. There. Someone had to say it.

So when the first ICE car came out that sported some sort of electronics onboard, (like maybe the am radio in the dash) you're suggesting that made it the first eCar? Ridiculous. There. Someone had to state the obvious.
CN

 

[rich c]

There are no government laws, nor municipal codes written for bicycles with GPS, or any other kind of accessory. There are codes written for bicycles that are ridden at night, but they are still called bicycles. The laws for eBikes are based on the motor, speed, and the type of control to send current to a motor.

 

[RunForTheHills]

The electric starter motor was invented and patented in 1903.

 

[PedalUma]

I dealt with a guy who wanted to make his bike electric. Turns out he wanted eTap. That is not an electric bike. That is wireless shifting. And it is really dumb when the battery dies on a ride. Or your wireless gets hacked by @RunForTheHills during a race.

 

[RunForTheHills]

Who needs to hack their wireless?

 

[AHicks]

All this makes me wonder what you would call a bike using a warp drive? Fast?

 

[ChezCheese:)]

Yes.