© BicyclingWhen it comes to inexpensive ways to travel, look no further than an electric bicycle or a moped. Mopeds were first designed in the early 1900s in New York and have been prevalent on the roads since the 1930s. If we take a quick look at electric bicycles, they were first invented in the 1880s in both France and the United States. France designed their schematics slightly earlier than the United States. However, Electric bicycles were rare and seldom seen until their rise in popularity in the early 2010s. While both electric bicycles and mopeds serve the same purpose of providing a cheap vehicle for short-range travel, they have their differences.
- Weight and Portability
Mopeds are noticeably larger and heavier than any electric bicycle on the market. While electric bicycles can weigh up to 50 pounds, mopeds can weigh four times as much, up to 200 pounds. The added size of the mopeds allows them to be much more powerful than any electric bicycle. However, the size of a moped will also make it much more cumbersome to maneuver around by hand. Not only that, but some electric bikes can be folded, which allows for easier storage.
- Power and Range
Mopeds have the edge in this category over electric bicycles. The size of a moped allows for more components that make them more powerful than an electric bicycle. Even electric mopeds have a bigger and stronger battery that allows them to travel around 20 miles more than any electric bicycle before needing a recharge.However, electric bicycles can extend their range with multiple batteries. Most electric bicycles have an average range of 20 to 30 miles on a single battery. But electric bicycle batteries are lightweight, which means you can carry an extra battery or two in a backpack. At the same time, an electric moped will need to be plugged in to recharge its battery.Also, most mopeds are gas-powered. A gas-powered moped will usually get around 70 to 80 miles per gallon of gas. But this can be tedious at times if you are planning on a long trip. However, the miles per gallon a moped has can get you to and from work multiple times before needing to fill up, which will only take a few dollars.
- Legal Restrictions
In order to legally operate a moped in any state in the United States, you need to be at least 17 years old. However, for electric bicycles, the laws are much more complicated.Electric bicycles are classified into three separate categories, and each of these categories has different laws in different states. The electric bicycle categories are as follows:
- Class 1: An electric bicycle that only provides assistance to the rider while they pedal and stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour.
- Class 2: An electric bicycle that is equipped with a throttle that allows the rider to drive without having to pedal. Class 2 electric bicycles also have pedal assistance that ceases once the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour.
- Class 3: An electric bicycle equipped with a speedometer and pedal assistance to help propel the rider that ceases to assist once the bicycle reaches 28 miles per hour.
Each of the classifications mentioned above have different legal restrictions in different states. For instance, in California, class 1 electric bicycles are considered low-speed motorized bicycles and require you to be at least 14 years old, and you must be wearing a helmet at all times. Whereas class 1 electric bicycles in Arizona do not have an age limit, nor do they require you to wear a helmet by law.With that said, if you are considering getting an electric bicycle, look up and study the laws of the state you live in.
- Pedals
The most significant difference between an electric bicycle and a moped is that electric bikes all have a pedal-assist mode. In this mode, you are required to pedal the bicycle so that the electric motor is able to assist you in going faster. Whenever you stop pedaling on an electric bicycle that is either class 1 or class 3, the motor will stop assisting. The pedal assist has some benefits and drawbacks. The pedal assist provides a light workout when traveling on your electric bicycle, which can either be a benefit or a drawback depending on the person.