SACRAMENTO (BRAIN) — A California bill that will more specifically define what is (and is not) an electric bike is closer to becoming law. The bill's supporters say it will address concerns about electric two-wheeled vehicles with throttles in addition to establishing e-mobility device and battery testing standards.
The state Senate passed SB 1271 last week, advancing it to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature or veto. If the bill becomes state law, California's definition of Class 1 and 3 electric bikes would include the phrase "is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle." This would mean that Class 1 (20 mph max assist) and Class 3 (28 mph max assist) e-bikes with both throttle- and pedal-assist would no longer be within the definition of "electric bicycle."
Federal regulations generally define e-bikes as having operable pedals with a maximum motor power of 750 watts and top speed on motor power alone of 20 mph. Some manufacturers offer models with both throttle- and pedal-assist features that can function as more than one of the three classes originally created by PeopleForBikes and adopted in 43 states. SB 1271 does not change the Class 2 definition, and electric bikes that have only a throttle-actuated motor providing assistance until the bike reaches 20 mph would still be labeled as such. The existing definition would also allow a Class 2 electric bike to have pedal-assist up to 20 mph, but it would need to be labeled and sold as a "Class 2" electric bike because of the throttle.
PeopleForBikes, which has worked on behalf of the industry in the writing and amending of the bill, opposed altering the class definition. The group said the legislation could help the industry by addressing what it calls out-of-class electric vehicles that can exceed 20 mph solely on motor power. Another new provision specifically bans the advertising, sale, or offer for sale of a vehicle that can exceed 20 mph on motor power alone as an electric bicycle.
Bill amendments that PeopleForBikes successfully advocated for include:
- Adding EN 15194 as an acceptable testing standard for e-bikes and their batteries, along with UL 2849.
- More broadly defining "accredited laboratory" to include ISO-17025 certified labs.
- Removing "continuous rated power" as an added limitation to the current 750-watt standard used in federal law and most other states.
- Adding a "startup" or "walk" mode to Class 1 and 3 e-bike definitions.
- Avoiding a last-second proposal to require color-coded class labels placed on the left side of the head tube.
