Speed classes, from 25 km/h to off-road

25 km/h, 250 W

This is the European pedelec under EN 15194, the British EAPC, and the usual Australian pedelec. Pedals remain the way the bike can be propelled. Assistance cuts off at 25 km/h, which Britain writes as 15.5 mph. The fit checker on ConvoKits uses the British wording of that class and nothing faster.

20 mph and 28 mph

In the United States, Class 1 is pedal-assist to 20 mph. Class 2 is a throttle, still 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal-assist to 28 mph and commonly wants a speedometer. Watt caps are often a state matter. 750 W is a figure you will see often. It is not a federal sticker you can carry into every state, and it is not a British EAPC.

32 km/h, 45 km/h, and the rest

Canada’s federal power-assisted bicycle is about 500 W and 32 km/h, with provinces adding conditions. A European s-pedelec at 45 km/h is a registered, insured, plated vehicle. Japan fades assistance out by 24 km/h. New Zealand is often discussed at 300 W. China’s national standard centres on 25 km/h, with watt figures that depend on which text you are reading.

• A 250 W sticker does not move a throttle bike into the British EAPC.
• A programmable controller can be sold in more than one class. The page you are on is the class of that configuration.
• Off-road on this site means the published rating sits above street classes. Private land and closed courses.
• Rules differ inside a country. One national line is a starting point, not a permit.

The world table lives on Speed classes. Use it to pick a filter, then open the kit and read the continuous watts and the cut-off, not the family name.