FMVSS

[808Chad]

Hi,
Was wondering if someone could answer a question for me before I purchase an electric scooter. I really want a SEEV 800 but I don't know if it's street legal in Hawaii. From what I've read I would need to provide a certification label affixed by the manufacturer stating that it complies with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). Does the SEEV 800 have that and what does a FMVSS look like? So if I decide to go with another choice of electric scooter I know what to look for.
Maybe it's overkill and I don't even need a FMVSS but it's would be nice to know that before I went out and bought a electric scooter.
Thanks for your help.
Chad

 

[Ann M.]

Which county in Hawaii are you living in? The laws are a little vague for the state overall and local govt's seem to have differing acceptance of electric vehicles in general. I know since my former business partner moved to Maui and then Kauai more than 10 years ago. He tried to get imports of electric scooters in both places and met with a lot of resistance. And these were scooters with a smaller footprint than what you're looking at. An electric bike would be more discreet and less problematic legally. I think that the main island of Hawaii, or the 'Big Island' is a bit more liberal about the scooters with some companies there renting escooters & ebikes.

Knowing where you were going to ride would make a difference too. Although the SEEV has a 60V, 800 watt motor, that might be inadequate for some of the very steepest roads, especially if it's weighted down pretty good. If you're riding mostly in the lower elevations, or fairly flat terrain, not a problem on performance but remember, this is a big scooter with a big motor and wide tires with a lot of rolling resistance, so you won't see a 50 mile range with those tires on a steep climb or with someone over 170lbs, kinda the norm for basic measurement of performance.

 

[Ann M.]

Got another question for you @808Chad; are you a distributor or manufacturer of a similar product? You're IP address is for Taipei Taiwan, not Hawaii. If you're a manufacturer you can list your product in the Dealers/Manufacturers For Sale Area only

 

[808Chad]

Got another question for you @808Chad; are you a distributor or manufacturer of a similar product? You're IP address is for Taipei Taiwan, not Hawaii. If you're a manufacturer you can list your product in the Dealers/Manufacturers For Sale Area only

No I'm not a manufacturer. Will be living here in Taiwan for another 6 months studying Chinese. Until I moved here I have never ridden an electric scooter. Now I'm hooked. The electric scooter I have here looks like a regular moped. But when I return to Hawaii I would like to get a cool looking electric scooter. I see on amazon that they sell the SEEV but I have no idea if I would be able to ride it legally in Hawaii

 

[808Chad]

Does your friend still sell electric bikes in Hawaii?
Does he know of anyone in Honolulu that I could buy a bike from?
And why do electric bicycles cost way more than electric scooters?
Sorry newbie to all of this.

 

[808Chad]

Also I was thinking why not just get the model with a bigger motor? With proper paper work, couldn't I just register it as a moped?