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Maryland driving lesson · Other Important Rules

Electric bicycles & electric low-speed vehicles

A 2-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Other Important Rules
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
54

E-bikes and stand-up electric vehicles are everywhere. Maryland defines what counts as an electric bicycle, sorts e-bikes into three classes by speed and pedaling, and defines electric low-speed vehicles separately.

An electric bicycle:

  • Is operated by human power with help from an electric motor
  • Has fully operable pedals
  • Has two or three wheels
  • Has an electric motor rated 750 watts or less
Handbook p. 54 ↗
750 watts

Maximum motor rating for an electric bicycle

Handbook p. 54 ↗

Electric bicycle classes

Electric bicycle classes
ClassMotor assistsAssist stops at
Class 1Only while pedaling20 mph
Class 2Pedaling or not20 mph
Class 3Only while pedaling28 mph
Handbook p. 54 ↗

An electric low-speed vehicle:

  • Is designed to carry only the operator
  • Weighs less than 100 pounds
  • Has front and back wheels in line, or one wheel in front and two in back
  • Has handlebars and a platform the rider stands on
  • Is powered by an electric motor and human power
  • Can operate at up to 20 miles per hour
Handbook p. 54 ↗
Less than 100 pounds

Weight of an electric low-speed vehicle

Handbook p. 54 ↗

Know the rule

If you use an electric low-speed vehicle, check for other local restrictions.

Handbook p. 54 ↗

Put it into practice

An e-bike's motor keeps pushing when you stop pedaling and cuts out at 20 mph. That's Class 2. If it helped only while you pedal and cut out at 28 mph, it would be Class 3.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the maximum electric motor rating allowed for a vehicle to be classified as an electric bicycle?
  1. 750 watts or less
  2. 1,000 watts or less
  3. 500 watts or less
  4. 1,500 watts or less

Answer: 750 watts or less

An electric bicycle must have an electric motor rated at 750 watts or less.

Handbook p. 54 ↗
At what speed does a Class 1 electric bicycle's motor stop providing assistance?
  1. 28 miles per hour
  2. 20 miles per hour
  3. 15 miles per hour
  4. 25 miles per hour

Answer: 20 miles per hour

Class 1 electric bicycles stop motor assistance once the bike reaches 20 mph.

Handbook p. 54 ↗
What distinguishes a Class 3 electric bicycle from a Class 1?
  1. Class 3 provides assistance without pedaling, Class 1 does not
  2. Class 3 has no pedals, Class 1 does
  3. Class 3 assists to 28 mph; Class 1 to 20 mph
  4. Class 3 has three wheels, Class 1 has two

Answer: Class 3 assists to 28 mph; Class 1 to 20 mph

Class 3 electric bicycles provide pedal assistance up to 28 mph, compared to 20 mph for Class 1.

Handbook p. 54 ↗
What distinguishes a Class 2 electric bicycle from a Class 1?
  1. It assists up to 28 mph
  2. It assists only above 28 mph
  3. It requires a license to operate
  4. It assists even without pedaling

Answer: It assists even without pedaling

A Class 2 electric bicycle's motor can provide assistance whether or not the rider is pedaling, unlike Class 1.

Handbook p. 54 ↗
What is the maximum weight for a vehicle to be classified as an electric low-speed vehicle?
  1. Less than 100 pounds
  2. Less than 250 pounds
  3. Less than 50 pounds
  4. Less than 500 pounds

Answer: Less than 100 pounds

Electric low-speed vehicles must weigh less than 100 pounds.

Handbook p. 54 ↗
What is the maximum speed of an electric low-speed vehicle?
  1. Up to 28 miles per hour
  2. Up to 20 miles per hour
  3. Up to 15 miles per hour
  4. Up to 35 miles per hour

Answer: Up to 20 miles per hour

Electric low-speed vehicles can operate at a speed of up to 20 mph.

Handbook p. 54 ↗
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