Buying an electric bike can feel confusing when you see one model for $499 and another for $1,499 that look almost identical.

Anyone who has ridden an electric Citi Bike compared to a regular model can understand an e-bike’s appeal: It makes pedaling easier, commuting faster, and hauling bigger, heavier items more feasible.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. William covers motorbikes, E-bikes, cars, trucks and mobility tech. With the flood of e-bikes now on the market, it’s unusual to ...