New "EBike" Regulations in California

[Mikerb]

Looks like California has tightened regulations on "EBikes" in Senate Bill 1271 passed in September.
It bans throttles on class 1 and class 3 bikes but allows throttles on Class 2 bikes...but only up to 20mph.
Maximum motor power for all classes 750w.
New battery certification regulations as well.

 

[jbrown15]

Looks like California has tightened regulations on "EBikes" in Senate Bill 1271 passed in September.
It bans throttles on class 1 and class 3 bikes but allows throttles on Class 2 bikes...but only up to 20mph.
Maximum motor power for all classes 750w.
New battery certification regulations as well.

Weird, I always thought only class 2 ebikes had throttles anyways. I work at a shop and don't recall every seeing any Class 1 or 3 ebikes that actually have a throttle.

 

[mustclime]

Guess the dji’s are illegal…… 800 watts

 

[DirkWisely]

I thought a class 1 didn't have a throttle by definition?

 

[Astro66]

Guess the dji’s are illegal…… 800 watts

Rated power is 250 watts. Peak Power is 850 watts, 1000 watts in Boost Mode. Speed limited to 20mph with no throttle, so a class 1.

 

[Mikerb]

Rated power is 250 watts. Peak Power is 850 watts, 1000 watts in Boost Mode. Speed limited to 20mph with no throttle, so a class 1.
View attachment 153254

Tha article I saw referred to max power .....what correctly should be called peak power so I agree it is not very clear. Maybe the other regulations are aimed at outlawing modifications to class 1 and class 3 bikes.......or those bikes not made by the leading brands like Trek etc?

 

[Mikerb]

Maybe someone in California can find a copy of the actual Senate Bill 1271 to check the wording.

 

[Huxie]

Maybe someone in California can find a copy of the actual Senate Bill 1271 to check the wording.

Bill Text - SB-1271 Electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and storage batteries.

 

[Polar]

New battery certification regulations at least sounds positive

 

[Mikerb]

Bill Text - SB-1271 Electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and storage batteries.

Thanks......my reading of that suggests the 750w motor power limit refers to the maximum output of the motor. That is more explicit in the section that defines what is not a pedal cycle. Bosch gen 4 is 600w peak and I think Shimano ep801 the same........don't know what it means for Yamaha but seems DJI/ Amflow would not comply.
Lots of positive steps regarding battery safety etc which cause no issues for the main brands.

 

[Weeksy]

Who'd ever know though. If you got pullover over by Police they're not going to know if it's 600w max, 800w max or 1000w max... and there's bugger all way they could test it either ?

 

[Mikerb]

Who'd ever know though. If you got pullover over by Police they're not going to know if it's 600w max, 800w max or 1000w max... and there's bugger all way they could test it either ?

I assume a brand would have to prove that to enable certification. Max power is after all mostly defined by software and all the leading brands quote max power of their motor for marketing purposes.
Seems more sensible than the EU specification of an EPAC which specifies motor nominal power (250w)

 

[Weeksy]

I assume a brand would have to prove that to enable certification. Max power is after all mostly defined by software and all the leading brands quote max power of their motor for marketing purposes.

But how would that affect a rider on the trails ? POssibly it may affect someones ability to stock/sell them in the county/area, but a copper isn't going to have a defined list of approved bikes etc.

 

[Huxie]

But how would that affect a rider on the trails ? POssibly it may affect someones ability to stock/sell them in the county/area, but a copper isn't going to have a defined list of approved bikes etc.

From the bill:
“On and after January 1, 2017, manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles shall apply a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each electric bicycle. The label shall contain the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric bicycle, and shall be printed in Arial font in at least 9-point type.”

So perhaps bikes in Cali should already have to display that info?

 

[Tgianco]

Guess the dji’s are illegal…… 800 watts

Nah, the law takes into account the 250 watt motor. DJI will be fine. There are a ton of 750w hub motors that have a top output of like 1100-1200 watts that will still be legal, too.
This law was aimed at the SurRon's of the world & the others that are pseudo/ wanna-be e-motorcycles.

 

[Tgianco]

From the bill:
“On and after January 1, 2017, manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles shall apply a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each electric bicycle. The label shall contain the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric bicycle, and shall be printed in Arial font in at least 9-point type.”

So perhaps bikes in Cali should already have to display that info?

Yes, they do, although you can get around that. However, most bike manfucterers/ makers (at least the reputable and even semi-reputable ones) already do. If you buy one off Amazon or TEMU, yeah, good luck to ya.

 

[Tgianco]

But how would that affect a rider on the trails ? POssibly it may affect someones ability to stock/sell them in the county/area, but a copper isn't going to have a defined list of approved bikes etc.

It won't, unless you're one of those people taking their SurRons (and SurRon/ Super 73 knockoffs) onto a trail. They'll be on the lookout for those. Otherwise, if you have a bike that looks like a bike and isn't souped up to burst to 45mph (what's up, eCells?), you're fine.