E-Bike Racks: How to Carry a Heavy E-Bike on Your Car

Rider in a helmet rolling a fat tire e-bike up a ramp onto a hitch-mounted bike rack on an SUV

The right e-bike rack is one rated for your bike's weight, and for most e-bikes we carry, that means a hitch-mounted platform rack. Trunk, hanging and roof racks on Thule's Canadian site list 15 to 20 kg per bike, while the adult e-bikes we carry list 17.7 to 93 kg. Before you buy, check three limits: the rack's per-bike rating, its total load, and what your hitch and vehicle allow, rack included.

Rack ratings and provincial rules checked October 2026 (sources at the end). This is general information, not legal advice.

Why an e-bike rack has to be rated for e-bikes

Bosch, which makes e-bike motors, says its drive system adds weight, so use an approved, compatible rack; overloading one can result in death or serious injury.

Among our electric bikes for sale, the 77 adult two-wheel models that list a weight run from 17.7 to 93 kg (October 2026), though brands don't always say whether that includes the battery. Here's how they compare with rack makers' per-bike limits:

Rack type Per-bike limit the maker lists Our adult e-bikes at or under it
Trunk 15 kg (Thule OutWay) 0 of 77
Hanging hitch 17 kg (Thule Apex XT) 0 of 77
Roof 20 kg (Thule ProRide XT) 1 of 77
Platform hitch for e-bikes About 27 to 36 kg (Thule T2 Pro XTR, EasyFold XT, Epos, Vero) 6 to 36 of 77
Heavy-duty platform hitch 45.4 kg (100 lb) or 68 kg (150 lb), 1UP USA 57 or 70 of 77

Seven of them, Eahora moped-style and fat tire models from 68.5 to 93 kg, are over every per-bike rating we found.

Hanging, trunk and roof: e-bike car racks that fall short

None of our 77 adult e-bikes with a listed weight fits those trunk or hanging racks. The roof rack's 20 kg fits one, and that bike has to be lifted overhead.

Weight isn't the only limit. Thule lists the ProRide XT for tires up to 7.6 cm (3 in) wide and a wheelbase up to 1,235 mm, and 52 of those 77 bikes list tires wider than that. Want a cargo rack on the bike itself? See our e-bike accessories guide.

E-bike hitch racks: per-bike, total and tongue weight

Per-bike rating and total load

A hitch rack has two ratings, and both apply. Thule's Epos lists 34 kg per bike and 64 kg in total, so two 34 kg e-bikes pass one test and fail the other at 68 kg (worked example, not a measurement). On cargo vans, passenger vans and van conversions, Thule's T2 Pro XTR instructions cut the load to 60% of its rating.

Tongue weight: your hitch and your car

Tongue weight is the downward load on your hitch, and hitch maker CURT says your capacity is limited by the lowest-rated part: hitch, accessory or vehicle. Its chart rates a Class 1 hitch (1-1/4-inch receiver) for up to 90.7 kg (200 lb) of tongue weight. Higher classes vary by maker and part number, so read your hitch's label and your vehicle's manual.

Hollywood Racks doesn't recommend carrying more than 30 kg (65 lb) on a Class I hitch, since bikes farther from the hitch sharply increase tongue weight, and advises Class II or higher. For scale, the EUNORAU META20 1.0 folding e-bike lists 28.8 kg.

The vehicle's recommended maximum load always takes priority over the rack's, Thule's instructions say. The Polestar 2 (2021) owner's manual for Canada, for example, allows 90 kg for the bicycle holder and bikes combined. Two worked examples on that car, not measurements:

  • Passes: a Thule Epos (17.3 kg) plus two META20 1.0 bikes (57.6 kg) is 74.9 kg, inside all three limits.
  • Fails on the car: a Thule Vero (25.4 kg) plus two 35 kg e-bikes is 95.4 kg. Both bikes fit the Vero's ratings, but the total is over 90 kg.

Receiver size and adapters

Thule's T2 Pro XTR instructions list 27.5 kg (60 lb) per bike on either receiver, but 45 kg in total on a 1.25-inch hitch and 55 kg on a 2-inch one. Thule's hitch racks also aren't designed for extenders, adapters or swing-away devices unless Thule says so.

Fat tires, wheelbase and loading ramps

For 4.0-inch fat tires, check tray width: Thule's Vero and T2 Pro XTR take up to 5 inches, the Epos 3.2 (5 with Thule's XXL Fatbike Wheel Straps) and the EasyFold XT 3 (4.7 with those straps).

The FREESKY Ranger Air M-540, on 26 x 4.0-inch tires, lists 43.1 kg. That's over the Vero's 36 kg, the highest per-bike rating we found on Thule's Canadian hitch racks, but under the 45.4 kg (100 lb) 1UP USA lists for its Super Duty racks. Compare more in our fat tire e-bikes.

E-bikes rated above 500 W, or that assist past 32 km/h, fall outside the provincial e-bike rules; our e-bike laws page explains.

Compare wheelbase as well: Thule lists maximums of 1,300 to 1,350 mm for the EasyFold XT, Epos and Vero, so check your bike's manual or spec sheet. For loading, Thule's EasyFold XT page lists a foldable ramp as included, and Thule sells one as an accessory for the Epos and Vero.

Battery, rain and road salt

Battery off, if the manual says so

If your bike's manual says to remove the battery for transport, do it. Bosch, for example, says to take the bike computer and battery off, if possible, and store both safely in the car. It lightens the load too: the Eahora Juliet lists 52.6 kg with its 12.5 kg battery, so 40.1 kg without (worked example, not a measurement).

Health Canada says not to leave lithium-ion batteries in a hot or cold car, so take yours indoors when you arrive.

Rain and bike covers

Bosch also says not to carry the battery on a car's rear bike rack in the rain. And skip the bike cover: Thule's instructions say covers, baskets, pumps and locks that aren't permanently mounted must come off before driving, since they can detach and endanger other road users.

Road salt and car washes

Thule says to clean the rack regularly with warm water or car shampoo when roads are salted, and to remove it before an automatic car wash. For the bike, our winter riding guide has a rinse, dry and re-lube routine.

Plates, lights and a pre-drive checklist

A loaded rack can hide your plate and tail lights. The four provinces we cover say:

  • Ontario: the Highway Traffic Act says the entire plate must be plainly visible at all times, not obstructed by any attachment or the load carried.
  • Quebec: the SAAQ says a trunk-mounted bike rack mustn't hide the licence plate or the vehicle's lights.
  • British Columbia: the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations say the plate must be entirely unobstructed, and required lamps and reflectors must not be obscured by the load.
  • Alberta: the Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation bars driving unless the licence plate is securely attached, legible and clearly visible at all times.

Other provinces and territories are not covered here yet; check your provincial or territorial transportation department. If the rack hides the tail lights and has none of its own, Thule's instructions say an external light board must be fitted.

Before you drive off:

  • Battery off: if your manual says so.
  • Heaviest bike nearest the car: as Thule's instructions direct.
  • Loose parts off: covers, baskets and pumps.
  • Everything locked: bikes to the rack, rack to the hitch, keys inside the car. Our e-bike theft prevention guide covers locking up at stops.
  • Plate and lights visible: if the rack hides the lights, fit a light board.
  • Re-check after 50 km: then at regular intervals, as Thule's instructions say.
  • Slow over speed bumps: 10 km/h at most, per Thule.
  • Helmet packed: our e-bike helmet guide covers the provincial rules and fit.

A folding e-bike: skip the rack

If an electric bike rack and hitch don't suit your car, a folding e-bike can ride inside it. Our folding vs full-size guide covers the trade-offs; measure your trunk against the folded size. The folding models we carry list 25.0 to 33.0 kg (October 2026), still a real lift.

The lightest, the SAMEBIKE 20LVXD30-II at 25.0 kg, folds to 90 x 36 x 70 cm, and the SAMEBIKE CY20 (28.0 kg) to 85 x 53 x 69 cm. The EUNORAU E-FAT-MN is a 28.0 kg folding e-bike on 20 x 4.0-inch fat tires. See them all in our folding e-bikes.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a special bike rack for an electric bike?

Usually, yes. The trunk, hanging and roof racks we checked list 15 to 20 kg per bike, while Thule's platform hitch racks for e-bikes list about 27 to 36 kg and 1UP USA's go to 68 kg (150 lb).

Can you put an e-bike on a roof rack?

Rarely. The roof rack we checked is limited by weight and tire width, and only one of our adult e-bikes fits it. Look at a platform hitch rack or a folding e-bike instead.

Should I take the battery off my e-bike for a car rack?

If your bike's manual says so, yes. Bosch says to remove the battery and bike computer if possible and store both in the car, and not to carry the battery on a rear rack in the rain. Health Canada says not to leave lithium-ion batteries in a hot or cold car.

Can a 1.25-inch hitch carry two e-bikes?

Only if every rating allows it. Thule's T2 Pro XTR instructions allow 45 kg in total on a 1.25-inch hitch versus 55 kg on a 2-inch one, so two 25 kg e-bikes are over the smaller limit (worked example, not a measurement). Your hitch label and owner's manual set the final number, and the lowest rating wins.

Sources

Next step: no hitch on your car? Compare compact models in our folding e-bikes.