Electric bikes are gaining popularity, and for good reason; they combine the best of a conventional bicycle (maneuverability, light weight, and a workout) with the extra oopmf of a moped. With just a small additional motor, hills become a breeze, and extra weight (groceries or travel gear) are rendered easy to deal with- meaning you'll use your bike more and your car less (and maybe be able to give up the carbon dioxide belching machine altogether!).

Best of all, They're FUN! MNN blogger Shea Gunther writes, "Electric bikes are a blast to ride around on. The Comfort Cruiser goes 20 mph on flat ground on battery power alone. When I crank down and pedal I can add another 10+ mph, putting me at the same speed as most cars driving around Portland. Because I (safely) go through red lights, I nearly always travel faster than vehicular traffic from point to point. That's fun."

But as electric bikes have become more popular, the field has widened, meaning that there are more and more companies that offering these powered wheels. Here's the top five, taking into consideration price, design, range, and rep.

The Optibike ($5,995, top right) looks like the Bike of the Future that it is. Made in Boulder, Colorado, it boasts a Lithium ion battery (the same as that used in the Tesla electric sportscar) and a range of 100 miles! The battery plugs into a regular wall socket and is guaranteed for 3 years/30,000 miles. A women's-specific model is available.

Electric bikes are gaining popularity, and for good reason; they combine the best of a conventional bicycle (maneuverability, light weight, and a workout) with the extra oopmf of a moped. With just a small additional motor, hills become a breeze, and extra weight (groceries or travel gear) are rendered easy to deal with- meaning you'll use your bike more and your car less (and maybe be able to give up the carbon dioxide belching machine altogether!).

Best of all, They're FUN! MNN blogger Shea Gunther writes, "Electric bikes are a blast to ride around on. The Comfort Cruiser goes 20 mph on flat ground on battery power alone. When I crank down and pedal I can add another 10+ mph, putting me at the same speed as most cars driving around Portland. Because I (safely) go through red lights, I nearly always travel faster than vehicular traffic from point to point. That's fun."

But as electric bikes have become more popular, the field has widened, meaning that there are more and more companies that offering these powered wheels. Here's the top five, taking into consideration price, design, range, and rep.

The Optibike ($5,995, top right) looks like the Bike of the Future that it is. Made in Boulder, Colorado, it boasts a Lithium ion battery (the same as that used in the Tesla electric sportscar) and a range of 100 miles! The battery plugs into a regular wall socket and is guaranteed for 3 years/30,000 miles. A women's-specific model is available.

The Izip Trekking bike ($1,999.00, at left) has a top speed of 20 Mph and can go around 25-30 miles on a charge, and only weighs 52 pounds. It looks cool and comes fully accessorized. 

Pedego Comfort Cruiser ($1,695.00) is so easy to ride that even a 90-year old man has emailed the company about how much fun he's having on it! Classic bike styling and a range of finishes mean you'll be looking great as you cruise by other bikes on hills and cars stuck in traffic. You'll be able to go about 15-30 miles on a charge, depending on the weight of the rider and number of hils.