California law draws distinct definition between e-bikes and e-motos
California has brought some clarity to the concerningly opaque legal lines between electric bikes and electric motorcycles after it recently enacted a law that clearly defines the differences between the two vehicles. Â
As detailed in its Oct. 7 Ride Report, the Motorcycle Industry Council, it’s an issue MIT said it spent months improving the bill’s vehicle definitions, classifications, and related requirements.Â
As such, California Senate Bill 1167 — which was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 30 — effectively changes the type of vehicles that are prohibited from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as e-bikes.  Â
The bill’s co-sponsors — CalBike and PeopleForBikes — sought to clearly define what qualifies as an e-bicycle and which vehicles fall outside that definition, giving law enforcement clearer guidance as higher-powered off-road e-motorcycles are increasingly used on public roads.
The law maintains California’s definition of an e-bike as a bicycle with operable pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts. Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, mopeds, and off-highway e-motorcycles cannot be advertised, sold, or labeled as e-bikes. The law also establishes disclosure and labeling requirements intended to make the differences between those vehicle categories clearer to consumers and law enforcement.
California follows Washington
In June, Washington state also enacted a similar law that established a clearer distinctions between e-bikes and e-motorcycles. It’s safe to anticipate other states making their own definition between e-bikes and e-motorcycles, and MIC says it will continue to monitor similar legislation as states consider how these electric two-wheel vehicles should be classified, labeled, advertised, and sold.
California seemed to be at the center of the concerns, and the bill was in part a response to the growing public safety crisis surrounding high-powered e-motorcycles being marketed as e-bikes. These concerns peaked in April following an incident where a teenager driving an e-motorcycle struck and killed an 81-year-old pedestrian
Dealer impact
For dealers, the new law now regulates how they advertise, label, and disclose products. The law draws up a clear regulatory line between legal, low-speed electric bicycles and high-powered e-motorcycles.
