This new legislation would place strict limits on how powerful an e-bike’s motor can be, in a move to make e-bikes safer for riders.
SAN DIEGO — Newly proposed state legislation would strictly limit the motor power of electric bikes to 750 watts, capping their speed and reclassifying more powerful models as motor-driven cycles that would require a license to operate.
Assembly Bill 1557, introduced late last week, targets what State Assembly Member Diane Papan calls “the Wild West” of e-bike manufacturing and modification. The bill comes as e-bike injuries in California have skyrocketed, jumping from 751 cases in 2017 to over 23,493 in 2022, according to a recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“We think we are really going to enhance safety with it. We don’t want to ban it altogether. We just want to make it where the bikes are safer,” said Papan, a Democrat who represents Assembly District 21 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Currently, many e-bike motors can be modified to reach 1,200 to 6,000 watts, far exceeding the 750-watt threshold this new legislation would establish.
“One little tweak and you’re going way over 28 miles an hour,” Papan said, highlighting the ease with which riders can illegally increase motor power.
The bill would apply to all e-bike riders, including adults. Papan noted that riders wanting more powerful machines have an alternative.
“If an adult wants to partake in an e-bike, this is what they are going to get. But if you want to buy a motorcycle, go buy a motorcycle. There’s always that option,” she told CBS 8.
E-bikes exceeding the 750-watt limit would be reclassified as motor-driven cycles, making them illegal on bike paths and requiring operators to obtain a motorcycle license. Violators could face fines under California’s Vehicle Code and have their bikes impounded. The legislation also mirrors safety standards already in place in Europe, according to Papan.
“For those young riders, we’re really going to need some guardrails, and this particular piece of legislation focuses on voltage itself, what’s being manufactured, what’s being sold,” she added.
The bill will likely first go before the Assembly’s Transportation Committee before advancing to the full Assembly and State Senate for approval, ultimately requiring the Governor’s signature.
Meanwhile, California has enacted new e-bike safety rules effective this month. All e-bikes must now be equipped with a red reflector or flashing red light at all times, not just at night. Additionally, if a minor violates e-bike rules—such as failing to wear a helmet—both the minor and their parent could potentially face a citation, depending on the situation.
