The first modern electric bikes were invented in the 1990s. While electric bicycles have been around since the late 1800s, the technology and design of e-bikes have undergone significant advancements since then.
One of the pioneers of the modern e-bike was the Japanese company Yamaha, which developed its first electric bike prototype in 1993. The bike had a small range and was powered by a fairly low-capacity battery, but it laid the groundwork for what was to come.
In 1995, Lee Iacocca, the former CEO of Chrysler, founded a company called EV Global Motors and introduced the first commercially successful e-bike, the EV Global Motors E-Bike. This bike used a lithium-ion battery and a small electric motor and could reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
Other companies such as Giant and Trek also began to experiment with e-bikes in the late 1990s, and the technology continued to improve. Today, e-bikes are becoming increasingly popular as a sustainable and convenient mode of transportation.
In the years that followed, other companies began to develop and manufacture their own e-bikes, and the technology continued to improve. Today, there are many different types of e-bikes available, ranging from lightweight commuter models to heavy-duty off-road bikes, and they are becoming increasingly popular as a sustainable and convenient mode of transportation.