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Military vehicles span the gamut. From tilt-rotor aviation blurring the lines between helicopters and airplanes to light, nimble side-by-sides capable of rapid insertion, service-ready rigs can do just about anything. However, some of the latest additions to military arsenals worldwide are quiet, torquey e-bikes.

Military forces worldwide are testing and deploying e-bikes in reconnaissance and other operational contexts to get the job done

Imagine it: you get a warning order from upper echelon command tasking you and your teammates with long-range reconnaissance. Well, what would normally result in a long, arduous foot-mobile movement can turn into a quick, easy maneuver with e-bikes. 

I know, I know. I can already hear the old guard vehemently dissenting against battery-operated bicycles in modern battlespaces. Well, uniform-clad bicyclists have been serving as couriers, dispatchers, and other vital roles for well over a century. Today, fast, near-silent e-bikes can help soldiers, marines, and operators quietly navigate battlespaces. 

If you still don’t see the value, let’s check out the numbers. Although riders can supplement range with pedal power, some of these military-ready electric bicycles will cover up to 100 miles using their onboard battery packs. Of course, that range depends on several factors, including speed.

On the topic of speed, Electrek recently wrote about an HPC Defense Revolution W e-bike that will hit a reported 80 mph using a 10,500-watt motor. Okay, 80 mph is a bit excessive. Honestly, with few exceptions, no military vehicles regularly operate at those sorts of speeds unless their of the aviation variety.

It’s not just the U.S., either. The British Army has tested lightweight Stealth H-52 electric bicycles to deploy anti-armor teams using the shoulder-fired Carl-Gustaf. As the name suggests, the Stealth H-52 is nearly silent, devoid of mechanical driving gear or the noisy report of a small internal combustion engine (ICE). 

In fact, the tragic Russian military invasion of Ukraine has shed light on the operational practicality of e-bikes in combat. The Ukrainian defenders have effectively employed e-bikes as creative means to insert anti-tank missile teams carrying Javelin and Stinger missiles.

Source: Electrek, The Defense Post

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).