That statement is just wrong. 500 watts is enough to get a road bike to 50mph on a flat road. Most of the energy goes to wind resistance at that speed. The weight of the bike and rider is only relevant when going uphill, not “cruising”

Yah, it is wrong. But most e-bike controllers have been engineered to have a top speed to comply with legal restrictions (or because of cost).

Just because something provides 500W at low speed intermittnet cycle, doesn't mean that it does so indefinitely with lots of back-EMF.

That top speed is usually 26kph in Europe and Australia.

> > > gonna get you like 10-15 mph cruising speed max

> That top speed is usually 26kph in Europe and Australia.

So like 16MPH?

Sure, 10mph is 16kph. 15mph is 24kph. The “10-15mph” assertion top of thread is just incorrect

In the U.S. It's typically 20mph (32kph), although class 3 can be up to 28mph (45kph).

They're saying from a legal standpoint. As far as CPSC is concerned, they're not bicycles if they don't have pedals, and under many states' laws, pedals are a requirement to not be a motorcycle or moped.