There was moderate evidence that  e-cycling provided physical activity of at least moderate intensity , which was lower than the intensity elicited during conventional cycling , but higher than that during walking .
There was also moderate evidence that  e-cycling can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in physically inactive individuals .
Evidence of the impact of e-cycling  on metabolic and psychological health outcomes was inconclusive .
Conclusion E-cycling can contribute to meeting physical activity recommendations and increasing physical fitness .
As such , e-bikes offer a potential alternative to conventional cycling .
Background Electrically assisted bicycles ( e-bikes ) have been highlighted as a method of active travel that could overcome some of the commonly reported barriers to cycle commuting .
The objective of this systematic review was to assess the health benefits associated with e-cycling .
Effect of E-Bike Versus Bike Commuting on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Overweight Adults: A 4-Week Randomized Pilot Study
Objective : To assess if active commuting with an electrically assisted bicycle ( e-bike ) during a 4-week period can induce increases in cardiorespiratory fitness measured as peak oxygen uptake ( V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak ) in untrained , overweight individuals , and if these changes are comparable with those induced by a conventional bicycle . Design : Four-week r and omized pilot study . Setting : Controlled laboratory . Participants : Thirty-two volunteers ( 28 men ) participated . Seventeen { median age 37 years [ interquartile range ( IQR ) 34 , 45 ] , median body mass index [ BMI ] 29 kg/m2 [ IQR 27 , 31 ] } were r and omized to the E-Bike group and 15 [ median age 43 years ( IQR 38 , 45 ) , median BMI 28 kg/m2 ( IQR 26 , 29 ) ] to the Bike group . Interventions : Participants in both groups were instructed to use the bicycle allocated to them ( e-bike or conventional bicycle ) for an active commute to work in the Basel ( Switzerl and ) area at a self-chosen speed on at least 3 days per week during the 4-week intervention period . Main Outcome Measures : V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was assessed before and after the intervention in an all-out exercise test on a bicycle ergometer . Results : V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak increased by an average of 3.6 mL/(kg·min ) [ SD 3.6 mL/(kg·min ) ] in the E-Bike group and by 2.2 mL/(kg·min ) [ SD 3.5 mL/(kg·min ) ] in the Bike group , with an adjusted difference between the 2 groups of 1.4 mL/(kg·min ) [ 95 % confidence interval , −1.4 - 4.1 ; P = 0.327 ] . Conclusions : E-bikes may have the potential to improve cardiorespiratory fitness similar to conventional bicycles despite the available power assist , as they enable higher biking speeds and greater elevation gain
There was moderate evidence that  e-cycling provided physical activity of at least moderate intensity , which was lower than the intensity elicited during conventional cycling , but higher than that during walking .
There was also moderate evidence that  e-cycling can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in physically inactive individuals .
Evidence of the impact of e-cycling  on metabolic and psychological health outcomes was inconclusive .
Conclusion E-cycling can contribute to meeting physical activity recommendations and increasing physical fitness .
As such , e-bikes offer a potential alternative to conventional cycling .
Background Electrically assisted bicycles ( e-bikes ) have been highlighted as a method of active travel that could overcome some of the commonly reported barriers to cycle commuting .
The objective of this systematic review was to assess the health benefits associated with e-cycling .