Types
Types of Electric Bikes: Median Prices by Category
A data guide to the main types of electric bikes, with median Canadian prices and model counts for commuter, cargo, fat-tire, folding and more.
The Data Desk Jul 10, 2026 6 min read
Quick answer
Electric bikes split into about ten categories. This index tracks 669 models across 62 brands. Nine named types each carry a median Canadian price, from fat-tire at $625 to cargo at $6,399 CAD. The largest single group is the commuter: 139 models, median $2,799 CAD. Across the whole catalog, the median lowest live price is $2,373 CAD (of the 343 models with a Canadian offer). Choose a type by the job first: hauling, distance, storage, or trails. Then check power and class against local law. The table below is your map, and each row points to the full database and the ranked boards.
The types at a glance
Each row is a median Canadian price and the number of tracked models in that type. Missing types (a few models sit outside these nine labels) show as ”—”.
| Type | Median price (CAD) | Models tracked |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo | $6,399 | 15 |
| Mountain | $5,199 | 29 |
| Trike | $3,599 | 5 |
| Road | $3,449 | 10 |
| Commuter | $2,799 | 139 |
| Folding | $1,800 | 11 |
| Scooter | $1,499 | 26 |
| Dirt / off-road | $999 | 92 |
| Fat-tire | $625 | 16 |
These nine labels cover most of the 669 tracked models. The rest are untyped or sit in smaller niches. The price spread is wide: the priciest median (cargo) runs about ten times the cheapest (fat-tire).
What each type is for
Commuter. The default city bike: upright, racked, fendered, built for daily distance. It is the deepest category at 139 models, median $2,799 CAD. Start here if the job is getting to work.
Cargo. A long or reinforced frame for kids, freight, or a car replacement. The most expensive type by median, $6,399 CAD across 15 models. Weight and frame length are the trade-off.
Mountain. Suspension and trail geometry for dirt. Median $5,199 CAD, 29 models. The second-priciest category, and the closest thing to a sport build.
Trike. Three wheels for stability, load, or mobility needs. A thin group at 5 models, median $3,599 CAD.
Road. Drop-bar or lightweight builds for pavement speed and distance. 10 models, median $3,449 CAD.
Folding. Hinged frames for transit, apartments, and boats. 11 models, median $1,800 CAD. You pay a small premium over budget bikes for the pack-down.
Scooter. Seated or standing e-scooters and moped-style rides. 26 models, median $1,499 CAD.
Dirt / off-road. Throttle-heavy, powerful off-road builds, often unroad-legal. The second-largest group at 92 models, median $999 CAD. Read the power section before you buy one.
Fat-tire. Wide tires for sand, snow, and rough ground. The cheapest median at $625 CAD, 16 models, though real-world prices climb with battery size.
Power reads across the types, not by type alone
The catalog does not sort motors by type. It does record a rating for 407 models. The median is 750 W. Of those, 56% exceed 500 W, 40% exceed 750 W, and 26% exceed 1000 W.
That matters because dirt and off-road builds skew high, and those numbers push past legal limits fast. Canada’s federal reference is 500 W and 32 km/h. The US low-speed e-bike line is 750 W and 20 mph on throttle. A “1000 W dirt bike” is often not a street-legal e-bike at all.
We unpack the wattage question and where the labels mislead in The 750-watt question.
Range claims are a soft number
Of the 296 models that publish a range claim, the median claim is 126 km. Treat that as marketing, not a spec.
The median claim runs about 198% above the battery-math midline. That midline uses watt-hours divided by 20 for realistic assisted kilometres. With a median battery of 749 Wh, the honest assisted figure lands near 37 km, not 126. Divide watt-hours by 15 for the gentlest best case.
The full method and why the gap is so large sit in The range lie.
Types are not classes
A type describes the frame and job. A class describes speed and throttle behaviour under the law. They are separate.
The common 3-class model: Class 1 and Class 2 assist to 20 mph, and Class 3 assists to 28 mph. This index does not record a class field, so we do not report a class distribution. We explain the system conceptually in Ebike classes explained, and the region-by-region rules live in the rulebook.
Any type can fall into any class. A cargo bike can be Class 1. A dirt build can exceed every class at once.
FAQ
What are the main types of electric bikes?
Nine named types cover most of the market: commuter, cargo, mountain, trike, road, folding, scooter, dirt/off-road, and fat-tire. Commuter is the largest group at 139 tracked models. Cargo carries the highest median price at $6,399 CAD. Fat-tire is the cheapest by median at $625 CAD. Pick by the job the bike must do, then confirm its power and class against your local law before buying.
Which type of electric bike is cheapest?
By median Canadian price, fat-tire is lowest at $625 CAD across 16 models, followed by dirt/off-road at $999 CAD. Those medians reflect budget builds; larger batteries raise the real price quickly. Across the entire catalog the median lowest live price is $2,373 CAD, of the 343 models with a Canadian offer. For current price cuts, see the market page.
What is the difference between a type and a class?
A type is the frame and purpose: cargo, commuter, folding, and so on. A class is a legal speed category. In the 3-class model, Class 1 and 2 assist to 20 mph and Class 3 to 28 mph. Any type can be any class. We do not track a class field in this catalog, so read ebike classes explained and check the rulebook.
Are dirt e-bikes street legal?
Often not. The dirt/off-road group is powerful: many models push past 750 W and even 1000 W. Canada’s federal reference is 500 W and 32 km/h; the US low-speed e-bike line is 750 W and 20 mph on throttle. A bike above those limits may be classed as a motor vehicle, not an e-bike. Verify the specific rules for your region in the rulebook before riding on public roads.
How much should I expect to spend?
That depends on type. Median prices range from $625 CAD for fat-tire to $6,399 CAD for cargo. Commuter, the most common choice, sits at $2,799 CAD. The catalog-wide median lowest live price is $2,373 CAD. Roughly 44% of the 714 live offers are genuine markdowns, with a median cut of 20%. Compare full specs in the database.
The bottom line
Start with the job, not the badge. If you commute, the commuter category is deep and mid-priced at $2,799 CAD. If you haul, budget for cargo near $6,399 CAD. If you store the bike indoors, folding starts around $1,800 CAD.
Before you buy any type, check two numbers: motor wattage and legal class. The dirt category especially hides road-illegal builds behind low prices. Read the full buying guide, then browse the ranked boards to compare specific models within your chosen type.
