Electrical assist bikes or power-assist bicycles have become increasingly popular in all areas of the world. You consistently see them on the roads, parks, and on mountain trails. However, as more people are purchasing them, the dangers around electric bikes increase as well. To ensure everyone is safe when electric bikes or ebikes are involved, the Canadian government has created some rules and regulation, however, many provinces have slightly different regulations which we will discuss in this post.
In Canada, the technical term for ebikes is “assist bicycles” or “power-assist bicycles” which is legally defined under the Canadian Federal Legislation. These type of ebikes do not include bikes with internal combustion engines like the traditional motorbike or moped. They fall under a different category and are subject to different laws.
Since 2000, Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations have defined assist bicycles or power-assisted bicycles as a separate category from combustion engine vehicles which require a license to operate. E-bikes are currently defined as a two- or three-wheeled bicycles which operate with pedals and a battery-powered motor.
A power-assisted bicycle may be imported and exported freely within Canada without the same restrictions, taxes, or levies placed on automobiles, motorcycles and other combustion engine vehicles. Since some of the provinces have slightly different regulations surrounding electric bikes we have divided the information to make it easily accessible.
Click the provinces below to learn more about provincial regulations:
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