A Brief History Of eBikes

The modern electric bike has only caught on with cyclists in the last couple of decades due to the contemporary innovations that finally made eBikes a viable electric vehicle for every day use. With more eBikes hitting the market, many cyclists are curious about the history of eBikes and where they originated. And they’re also wondering if we can predict the future of eBikes based upon what we’ve seen in the past.

So, whether you just want to win your local trivia night or want to speculate about the future of eBikes with us, here is a brief history of when and where eBikes came from, how they developed, and what you can expect in the future.

When were eBikes invented?

Electric bicycles, or eBikes, have various dates to consider if you want to answer the question of when they were invented. The first, earliest eBike prototype was patented in 1895 by Ogden Bolton Jr, who stuck a 10-volt battery and a small hub motor on a conventional bike frame to make the world’s first motorized bike.
The first drivetrain eBike can be attributed to Hosea W. Libbey in 1897, though he called it a ‘double electric motor’ bike.

Throughout the late 1890s and early 1900s, there were dozens of different patents for many other machines, though none of them were viable or offered much power beyond your traditional bicycle. In 1969 that G.A. Wood Jr. patented his eBike design, setting an eBike motor record at four fractional horsepower.

It wasn’t until the last couple of decades that we began to see what may be considered the first modern eBike.

When were modern eBikes invented?

Though many early eBike patents and innovations came from the United States, we have to look to other parts of the world to see the development of the first modern eBike. In 1992, one of the first mass-produced eBike called the “Sinclair Zike” was invented and assembled in Birmingham, England.

It was considered a commercial failure and only managed to sell 2,000 units. The Zike had three-speed levels, with a 100 W motor and a battery that could travel between 15 to 20 miles on a single charge. While many modern bike features, such as a detachable battery pack and quick charging battery, can be traced to the Zike, poor stability and shock absorption were the primary reasons it failed.

In the mid-1990s in Japan, though, we started to see many of the other features now incorporated into modern eBikes. Yamaha, a famous Japanese automobile manufacturer, developed the first cadence pedal-assist system in 1993.

In 1997, Takada Yutky filed a patent for the first torque pedal-assist sensor and torque pedal-assist system, a feature now used in many premium eBikes. Thanks to Yamaha and several other Japanese companies like Panasonic, the first commercially successful eBikes were released in 1997.

By 1998, there were 47 unique eBike models available for purchase in Asia. By 2000, eBikes had officially entered mainstream production, with companies all over the world manufacturing eBikes.

Today, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of unique eBike models that all provide competitive performance, extensive comfort, and unique features that set them apart from one another. However, for all of their differences, here are the major technologies that set apart the modern eBike from the past, unsuccessful electric bikes.

• Affordable, high-energy capacity batteries thanks to lithium-ion batteries.
• Easy to use pedal-assist control unit displays, now packed with riding metrics.
• Lightweight but durable aluminum frames that compensate for the electronic component weight.
• Highly accurate and consistent cadence and torque based pedal assist measurement systems.
• Strong motors with enough horsepower to help you climb steep hills and keep up with traffic.
• Revamped drivetrains able to withstand the added strain created by motor systems.

What Do We Expect From eBikes in the Future?

Discussions on how eBikes will continue to develop in the future change day by day, with several different approaches that can be considered. If you want an in-depth summary about the trends we are currently seeing in the eBike industry, we invite you to read our blog post discussing the subject here at Best Electric Bikes.

Otherwise, we think these are the innovations will continue to be the primary focus for electric bikes going forward:

• Batteries will continue to be improved, becoming more affordable while offering a better range.
• Displays will become more advanced, offering greater motor control along with new smart device compatibility.
• Frames will continue to shrink in price and weight, reducing the weight difference between eBikes and traditional bicycles.
• Pedal systems will become more accurate and start including more regenerative features for extended or improved motor performance.
• Motors will become more powerful, allowing you to tackle new terrain challenges more easily or accelerate even faster.
• Drivetrains will last longer without needing maintenance, especially as more eBikes adopt a belt based CVT system.

Something else that we want to address involves regulations around eBikes. Since the modern eBike has only been around for the last few decades, the rules and regulations surrounding eBike usage vary significantly throughout the world.

As eBikes become more popular and mainstream, we expect that governments will both deregulate and unify the rules surrounding eBike usage. In 2020, the United States mandated that the Department of the Interior, which covers what vehicles can be used on public lands, would have the same, unified rules governing eBike usage.

Furthermore, more and more companies and governments now recognize the three-class eBike system, helping it become the universal standard when discussing eBike usage.
While eBikes are currently capped at 28 MPH, after which they are considered mopeds instead of electric bikes, we hope that the continued acceptance and safe use of eBikes will allow the motor speed limit to increase even further.

Conclusion: There is a Lot to Look Forward to with eBikes:

Depending on how you want to answer the question, eBikes have been around since as early as the 1890s, or only as recent as the 1990s. Whether they should be considered a brand new or old form of bicycling, the fact is that eBikes have a bright future ahead of them.

Technological innovation, increased use, acceptance, and recognition of the various benefits offered by eBikes make them more popular with the general public every day. While no one can predict the future exactly, electric bikes are so exciting because of innovation–something new and unexpected is happening in the eBike world daily. So visit our blog frequently to keep up with the latest technology.

And make sure to visit our detailed Ebike reviews to find the perfect make and model for you before you spend your hard earned cash.

To stay up to date on the latest in eBike news, be sure to visit Best Electric Bikes! Thank you for reading, and feel free to ask any questions you have by leaving a comment below!