I was generally in favor of the California ebike bill that went into effect at the beginning of 2026. Also in favor of this proposed clarification.
But I do have a quibble with both. Like many others, I was concerned that the existing bill set a 750W limit on legal ebike motor power without specifying how that 750W rating would be determined. Was it continuous, peak, nominal, or something else?
And after seaching this proposed bill 1167 on "750", I'm disappointed to see that it does nothing to clarify this ambiguity.
Now, I'm well aware of the vagaries of power ratings on ebikes. And with such a technical quagmire, no surprise that lawmakers decided to stay out of it. But setting a 750W limit without further clarification leaves us at the mercy of authorities who might decide that the 750W limit refers to peak power.
The lawmaker behind this new proposal happens to be my state senator. She's a thoughtful person, and I have a lot of respect for her. I'll let you know what happens when I call her office about this issue.