People for Bikes: Progress on Ebike Laws in the US

[Ken M]

@bob armani

HR 727 defines an "low speed electric bike" as same as a bike. There is a federal supremacy clause in the bill that prevents the states from writing a more stringent regulation for ebikes that can be legally sold and ridden just like traditional bikes.

No is the short answer to your question. HR 727 is a consumer law legalizing ebikes to be sold as bicycles and not motorized vehicles in the US. For the purpose you want (if necessary?), you would want state and local laws. That's what determines if your ebike is legal and that you're allowed to ride where you are riding.

 

[Ken M]

Is there anyone from People for Bikes that is willing to have a discussion about the 3 class state regulations and HR727 federal definition of a low speed electric bicycle?

 

[Ken M]

The entire ebike definition system is about establishing cutoffs that let ebikes be treated as bikes and use infrastructure that was designed for non-powered vehicles.

Somewhat accurate but the definition of compliance was intended to be HR727 and states were supposed to retain "use" regulations of compliant "low speed electric bicycles" as same as traditional bikes. There was one "class" that allowed full power to 20mph and limited assist beyond that speed - i.e. it stated max motor alone speed was 20mph with 170lb rider on level ground (a bit confusing but not if your the PhD electrical engineer that worked for years to pull legal purview of ebikes from the NHTSA and more it to the CPSC which benefited all ebike riders.

 

[Ken M]

The entire ebike definition system is about establishing cutoffs

No matter how many times I mention it, nobody ever reads HR727 which is the federal definition for what is a compliant "low speed electric bicycle" that can be sold in all 50 states. It does not define a cut-off at 20mph....it states that motor alone speed is limited to 20mph on level surface with 170lb rider. That defines the power limit that is allowed beyond 20mph (around 300w) to avoid having a cut-off which many consider a safety concern. People for Bikes did not understand HR727 when they defined assist limits at 20mph because they were too focused on something harmonized with the EU so that same ebikes sold there could be sold here but that was true before the 3 class legislation.