Micah Toll

Florida is the latest US state to wade into the increasingly crowded waters of e-bike regulation, with lawmakers advancing a bill that would impose a situational 10 mph (16 km/h) speed limit for e-bikes on shared-use paths. It’s a move that fits squarely into a broader national trend, as states and cities across the country reconsider how electric bikes fit into public spaces that were never designed with fast, motor-assisted travel in mind.

From a fitness perspective, electric bikes are often framed as a way to make cycling easier on the legs or more accessible for people who might otherwise avoid riding. But new research suggests the biggest benefits of e-bikes for older riders may be happening somewhere else entirely: the brain.

Trek just pulled the covers off a new top-tier city e-bike aimed squarely at riders who want comfort, power, and polish without turning daily riding into a hobby that requires constant tinkering. The new Trek Charter+ arrives as Trek’s most premium everyday e-bike yet, blending high-end drivetrain tech, deep integration, and a strong focus on car-replacement practicality.

Across the US, the e-bike policy map is starting to look oddly contradictory. In some states, lawmakers are responding to the rise of high-powered, moped-like electric bikes by reaching for blunt instruments: licensing requirements, insurance mandates, registration schemes, and laws that effectively treat e-bikes like motorcycles. New Jersey’s recent move to scrap the widely adopted three-class system in favor of motor-vehicle-style regulation is a prime example of how quickly a state can go from “e-bikes are the future” to “please don’t ride one at all.”

There’s a growing consensus in the electric motorcycle world that the key to success when considering the constraints of today’s technology is to target smaller, simpler, more urban electric motorcycles. While much of today’s attention goes to high-tech, high-price electric motorcycles and e-bikes, the real opportunity for electrification may lie at the opposite end of the spectrum: ultra-simple, ultra-affordable machines designed for the masses.

Electric boats and ferries are starting to become more common, but they have typically been confined to short, fixed routes with expensive, purpose-built charging infrastructure. This week, Swedish electric boat maker Candela set out to prove that those limits are no longer necessary – and did so in record-setting fashion.

While some police departments in the US and around the world are busy chasing down illegal or reckless e-bike riders, others are taking a very different approach: if you can’t beat them, join them.

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a range of stories from new e-bike laws in New Jersey and Amsterdam, Rad Power Bikes getting bought out of bankruptcy, the clever way that e-bike batteries can be used for extra power during storms or even power a food truck, Honda’s new 50 MPH electric scooter, and more.

Years ago, UL certification was a niche detail in the e-bike industry, often buried deep in spec sheets if it was there at all. But today, it’s one of the most important labels in the entire e-bike industry – and now, it’s at the center of a major lawsuit involving counterfeit safety marks, Chinese manufacturers, and the world’s largest online retailer.

Just as the dust is settling from New Jersey’s widely criticized move to treat many electric bicycles more like motor vehicles, another state is floating a proposal that has riders and advocates shaking their heads.

Rad Power Bikes has officially found a buyer. Just over a month after entering the bankruptcy process, the once-dominant direct-to-consumer electric bike brand has reached an agreement to sell its assets.

Amsterdam is often held up as the gold standard for bicycle-friendly cities, but even in one of the most bike-centric places on Earth, not all e-bikes are being treated equally. The Dutch capital has announced plans to ban electric fat tire bikes from its most famous park, and city officials are openly discussing whether wider restrictions could follow.

When storms roll through and the power goes out, most people think about flashlights, candles, or portable power stations. But there’s a backup power source sitting in a lot of garages that often gets overlooked: your e-bike battery.

New York City’s food carts are part of the city’s soul. They’re loud, fast, fragrant, and everywhere – serving up everything from tacos to kebabs on street corners that somehow never sleep. But for all their charm, there’s one thing almost everyone agrees could disappear tomorrow without being missed: the rattling, smoky gas generators that keep those carts powered.

Now, in a twist that feels peak New York, some of those carts are starting to run on the same batteries that power the city’s e-bike delivery fleet.

Lectric doesn’t really do old-school sales. At least not the kind most of us think of when we hear the word. Sure, North America’s largest electric bike retailer, Lectric eBikes, has tons of great deals all year round. But the seasonal sales are often value bundles where the prices remain the same, but you get a ton of great accessories thrown in. Now for a limited time though, Lectric has launched an honest-to-goodness, save-you-some-real-money sale on America’s most popular electric bikes.

Heybike is best known for affordable commuter e-bikes, fat-tire cruisers, and city-friendly rides. But the company is now stepping well outside the bike lane with something very different. Meet the Villain – a compact electric e-moto that looks and rides far more like a Sur-Ron–style light electric dirt bike than anything you’d legally call an electric bicycle.

And crucially, it does so at a price point aimed at riders who want electric dirt-bike fun without dropping full-on motorcycle money.

New Jersey has just rewritten the rules on electric bikes – and not in a way most of the e-bike world was expecting.

Honda has been releasing new electric two-wheelers at an impressive clip over the last few years, making up for lost time. The company’s latest model, known as the Honda UC3, is soon headed for the Vietnam and Thailand markets.

But perhaps more interesting than the bike itself is Honda’s decision to use integrated batteries rather than its own in-house removable-battery standard.

New Jersey has just taken one of the most aggressive – and controversial – steps yet in regulating electric bikes, and it’s a move that’s already drawing sharp criticism from cycling advocates.

In yet another unfortunate setback for Rad Power Bikes, a structure fire has been reported at the company’s Huntington Beach retail store. Rad Power Bikes once held the position as the top-selling electric bike retailer in the US, but has been struggling for some time and recently declared bankruptcy while it works to keep the company afloat.

California lawmakers are once again taking aim at the gray areas of electric bike regulation, this time by targeting what has quietly become one of the biggest loopholes in the state’s e-bike laws.

I’ve spent countless hours here at Electrek doing detailed hands-on testing of hundreds of electric bikes. Through thousands of miles of riding, I’ve been fortunate to learn these e-bikes inside and out, top to bottom and front to back. That long-term experience with real-world e-bike testing has helped me find the best electric bicycles on the market for just about any budget.

Below are some of the top e-bikes I’ve hand-tested for every price range, current as of January 2026. It’s a brand new year and many retailers are trying to start it off strong, snagging customers who might regret not getting an e-bike during the holiday season. So you just might find a better deal than you were expecting on a new e-bike. Check out the awesome e-bikes below, any one of which could become your next electric bike.

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes new e-bike launches from companies like Rad Power Bikes and Aventon, an updated e-bike conversion kit, Australian police crushing e-bikes (and other e-things), LAND Moto’s new ADV electric motorcycle heads off-road while staying street-legal, and more.

Swiss e-scooter maker VMAX came out of CES 2026 swinging, unveiling three new electric scooters that span the spectrum from ultra-light commuter to full-on high-performance “why does this go 50 mph?” territory. And unlike some CES announcements that feel more like vaporware than vehicles, these new models are built for real riders with very different needs.