Two lines on an e-bike spec sheet shape where you can ride it and where you can store it: the class and the safety certification. Both are easy to misread. This page explains what each one means, shows how the current models we track describe themselves, and points you to the sources that decide what applies where you live — your state, your city, your park system and often your building.
The three classes
The three-class framework is widely used in the United States, but state and local rules are not identical. Under the common model:
| Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throttle | no | yes, to 20 mph | generally no |
| Pedal assist up to | 20 mph | 20 mph | 28 mph |
| Typical access | most bike lanes and many paths | most bike lanes; paths vary | roads and bike lanes; paths vary more |
Three points that clear up most of the confusion:
The class caps assistance, not the bike. A Class 1 bike will go faster than 20 mph downhill or under your own legs. The motor simply stops helping.
Class 3 is about the assist ceiling. Under the common model a Class 3 bike is pedal-assist to 28 mph. Some manufacturer-configurable bikes combine a 20 mph throttle with pedal assist to 28 mph and are described as "Class 2/3."
Many current bikes are configurable. Velotric states Class 1/2/3 on 12 of its 14 current models, with a default of 20 mph adjustable in the app. Lectric lists several bikes as 2/3. Kingbull publishes a class on each model's technical-specification page — Class 2 adjustable to Class 3 on some models, Class 3 adjustable to Class 2 on others — with throttle-only speed capped at 20 mph either way. The class on the box is a setting, and changing it can change where the bike is allowed.
A missing class label does not determine how a bike is regulated. A bike that exceeds the speed, power or configuration limits of the three-class system may be treated differently depending on state and local law. Check the current configuration of the bike and the rules where you ride.
How the current bikes describe their class
Manufacturer wording as of our latest check:
- Velotric states a switchable class on all 14 current models (twelve are 1/2/3; the T1 ST Plus is 1/3 with no throttle; the Triker is 1/2 with a 20 mph ceiling).
- Lectric states Class 2 (XP Lite2, XP Trike2, at 20 and 14 mph respectively) or Class 2/3 on the rest. The XP4 page describes switching between all three modes, so read the model page rather than the brand summary.
- Kingbull states a class on every current model's technical-specification page. Literider 2.0, Discover ST 2.0, Trekker and Verve are listed as Class 2 / adjustable to Class 3 (20 mph default); Discover 2.0, Voyager 2.0, Rover 2.0, Jumper Go and EX Titan as Class 3 / adjustable to Class 2; Hunter 2.0S and Ranger ship at 28 mph with an in-display setting to run as Class 2 where your state requires it. Throttle-only speed is 20 mph across the lineup.
- Aventon states Class 1 (Soltera 3 ADV), Class 2 or Class 2/3.
- Rad Power Bikes states Class 2 on its older models and Class 2/3 on the Radster Road and RadWagon 5.
- DYU lists a top speed on each US model; where a class is not printed on the product page, confirm the current configuration with the seller.
How to check your own rules — in the right order
- Your state. Most states use the three-class system, but the details differ: minimum age for Class 3, helmet requirements, whether Class 3 is allowed on shared-use paths. A few states have changed their framework recently, so use a current source.
- Your city or county. Local rules often override state defaults on trails, boardwalks, parks and beaches.
- The specific trail or park. Land managers frequently set their own rule, and it may differ from the road next to it.
- Your building, campus or employer. Increasingly the binding constraint — see below.
We do not publish a state-by-state table, because it would go out of date within months. Your state DOT or DMV site and the land manager for where you ride are the sources that stay current.
Primary sources for the rules and the certifications above: the PeopleForBikes state-by-state e-bike law summary, the UL Solutions page on UL 2849, and your own state or city transportation site. Local rules change during the year, so treat any third-party summary — including this page — as a starting point, not the final word.
UL 2849, UL 2271 and UL 2580: what the numbers cover
These are safety standards published by UL Solutions. They are different standards and are not interchangeable.
- UL 2271 covers the battery pack for light electric vehicles.
- UL 2849 covers the whole e-bike electrical system — the interaction of the drive system, battery and charger, tested together.
- UL 2580 is a battery safety standard for electric-vehicle applications. It is a different standard from UL 2271 and UL 2849, so an e-bike listing that mentions UL 2580 cells is not a substitute for a UL 2271 or UL 2849 statement.
UL 2849 is the broader claim. For e-bike shopping, reproduce the exact certification statement the manufacturer publishes for the specific model rather than treating one standard as interchangeable with another.
Why this now shows up in purchase decisions. New York City requires e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries sold, leased or rented in the city to be certified to the applicable UL standard. Beyond that specific law, a growing number of apartment buildings, condo boards, offices and universities ask for UL certification before allowing a bike or a charger indoors, and some insurers ask as well. If you will store or charge the bike in a shared building, check the building rule before the spec sheet.
How to read manufacturer certification wording
Manufacturer wording varies by model, and the differences matter:
- "Certified to UL 2849" — the system-level claim.
- "UL 2849 and UL 2271" — system and pack. Velotric prints this on all 14 current models; Rad prints "UL Certified to UL 2849 and UL 2271" on several.
- "Tested by [lab] for compliance with UL 2849" — tested to the standard, phrased differently from certified. Rad uses this wording on some models.
- "Battery system tested through UL by [lab]" — a battery-level testing statement. Kingbull uses this wording on the Hunter 2.0S and Ranger, and separately states UL 2849 certification for its 2.0 series (Literider 2.0, Discover ST 2.0, Rover 2.0, Voyager 2.0) and Forge series (EX Titan, Jumper Go, Verve, Trekker) in its February 2026 certification update.
E-bike Shortlist records what the maker prints and links to it. We do not verify certifications ourselves, and an absent statement on a product page is not evidence about the bike — some makers publish certification details on a separate page or blog. If a certification is required for your purchase or building, confirm the current model documentation with the manufacturer or retailer.
Two practical habits
Charge the way the manufacturer says. Follow the manufacturer's charging instructions, use the supplied or manufacturer-approved charger, stay present while charging, and unplug the bike when charging is complete. If you need a replacement battery or charger, use one approved for the specific model.
Match the class to where you will actually ride most days. A 28 mph setting is not useful on a path where 20 mph is the limit, and the configurable bikes let you buy the capability without committing to it.
Specs: manufacturer US product and technical-specification pages. Class and certification statements are the makers' own. Rules vary by state, city, land manager and building — confirm what applies to you. Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Data checked, sources, and what we did not test
Data checked: 2026-09-14. Specifications and prices were read from each manufacturer's US product page on that date and can change without notice.
Sources: Kingbull, Velotric, Lectric, DYU, Rad Power, Aventon. No review sites, forums or retailer ratings were used.
What we did not test: ride quality, brake feel, real-world range, durability and customer service. We have not ridden these bikes and publish no ratings or rankings.
