An electrically powered bicycle is disclosed including a rear fork assembly having a pair of structures extending from a frame, a wheel attached between the structures of the rear fork assembly, an electric motor mounted adjacent to the wheel, and a drive mechanism disposed between the electric motor and the wheel. The drive mechanism includes a first gear connected to a shaft of the electric motor and a second gear connected to the wheel. The first gear has a first set of teeth meshed with a second set of teeth of the second gear such that when the shaft of the electric motor turns, the second gear provides a rotating force to the wheel.