The Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit Store

For the last couple of months we have been discussing various laws and regulation in place all around the world! We started our discussion with Australia then we moved on to the various world countries and finally we discussed the United States of America. In this concluding article of the series, we are going to discuss the Capital of America; Washington! In the following article, we will discuss the various regulations that are in place to regulate the use of electric bikes.

The state of Washington defines an electric bicycle as ‘a bicycle with two or three wheels equipped with a seat, operable pedals for human propulsion and an electric motor’. The rated power output for the motor is limited to 1000 watts and the maximum speed limit is kept modest at 20 miles per hour. The minimum age for driving an electric bike is fixed at 16. And no driver’s license is required for driving the bike. But the rider must always wear a helmet while riding. The rider must comply with all the regulations and laws related to the use of electric bikes. Electric bikes can have access to state highways to the same extent as normal bicycles. They can be used on multipurpose trails and bicycle lanes.  They can be used on multipurpose trails and bicycle lanes.

The state of Tennessee does not have any special legislation for electric bicycles but they are defined under the category of ‘motorizes bicycles’.  But all the laws are written with motorized bicycles in mind so definitions vary as compared to other states. We will discuss that definition, concerning electric bicycles, keeping motorized bicycles in mind.

As electric bike does not have a cylinder, we will not discuss its cylinder dimensions. But the bike must not cross the speed limit of 30 miles per hour while riding on a level ground. Plus, the motorized bicycle need not be registered or insured. But if you want to register it then you can do so by registering the vehicle under regulations issued by the commissioner of safety. But you do require a valid driver’s license in order to ride the bike. One must wear a helmet all the time while driving. Minors between the age 14 and 16 can apply for a restricted license. This restricted license is valid during daylight hours only and within a range of 7 miles (11 Kms) radius of driver’s residence.

In the concluding article of the series, we will discuss the regulations put forth by the state of Washington.

The state of Pennsylvania clearly defines the electric bicycle under the category of ‘motorized pedal cycle’. No separate arrangement is in place for electric bicycle. So all the laws, concerning the electric bicycles, are written with gasoline-powered pedal cycles in mind. We will discuss the laws in details in the following article.

As per the definition, a motorized pedal cycle is a motor-driven cycle equipped with operable pedals, a motor rated at no more than 1.5 brake horse power, a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50cc. It can have automatic transmission without any clutching operation. The maximum speed of the bike is kept modest at 25 miles per hour. In order to use an electric bike, you must have a class C license, a proof of insurance and registration. The least age for riding is kept at 16 and you can also obtain a motor operator’s permit with parental consent. Motorized pedal cycles can be used on all public roadways and walkways. They are exempted from use on express state highways. All the normal traffic rules are applicable to the electric bikes. The fine for driving an un-registered and illegal electric bike is $ 160 per event.       

In the next article, we will discuss the regulations put forth by the state of Tennessee.

The state of Ohio clearly defines an electric bike under the federal public law 107-319. An electric bicycle is considered legal if it satisfies three criteria put forth by the law mentioned above. We will discuss the law in detail in the following article. The same law creates confusion between ‘electric bicycle’ and ‘motorized bicycle’. We will also try to reduce this confusion with the following discussion.

The three conditions that must be satisfied by an electric vehicle to be classified as an electric bicycle are;

• It must travel at a speed less than 20 miles per hour.
• It must have functional pedals.
• The rated power of the motor must not exceed 750 watts.

Vehicles qualifying under the category of ‘electric bicycle’ do not require any registration or insurance, license plates or driver’s license. Rests of the rules are same as that of normal bicycles.

If you have a bike that follows the law 107-319 then you have a proper electric bicycle. But if the dealer has sold you the bike that has a motor producing more than 750 watts and can reach speeds more than 20 mph then you have a ‘motorized bicycle’ better known as ‘moped’. And mopeds do require registration and insurance in the state of Ohio!

The states of New Jersey and Oregon define an electric bicycle just like other states. We will be discussing those definitions in detail in the following article.

We will start our discussion with New Jersey. The state of New Jersey defines an electric bike as, ‘a pedal bicycle having a helper motor’. The rated power output for the electric motor is limited to 1.5 brake horse power and the maximum speed limit is kept modest at 25 miles per hour. Electric bike need not be registered. One does not even require an insurance. But the rider must be at least 16 in order to ride the bike. Electric try-cycles are not allowed on public roadways and sidewalks in New Jersey.

Now we will discuss regulations put forth by the state of Oregon. The Oregon law defines an electric bicycle as an electric motor driven vehicle equipped with operable pedals, a seat for the rider and no more than three wheels in contact with the ground. The rated power for the electric motor is limited to 1000 watts and the maximum speed limit for the bicycle is kept modest at 20 miles per hour while travelling on a level ground!

We have told you in previous articles that various states are changing the laws in order to make way for electric bikes to be used in the state. The state of Nevada is not an exception to this. As of May 19, 2009, Nevada amended its state transportation laws to explicitly permit electric bicycles to use any trail or pedestrian walkways. Otherwise electric bicycles were permitted to be used where normal bicycles were allowed. The state of Nevada defines electric bicycle normally like any other state. In the following article we will discuss that definition in detail.

As per the definition, an electric bicycle is a two or three wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor. The rated power for the electric motor is limited to 750 watts. Also the motor can produce up to 1 gross brake horse power. Maximum speed limit for the bike is kept modest at 20 miles per hour. Standard weight of the rider, as put forth by the law, is kept at 170 pounds. Plus, the rider must be at least 16 years old. All the normal traffic rules are applicable to the electric bike and they are exempted from use on express state highways.

Of all the states that we have discussed till now, none of them put forth any condition of insurance or registration. But the state of Minnesota chooses to differ with the other states in this aspect. In order to use an electric bike in the state of Minnesota, you must register it with the transportation department. Also you must have insurance for the bike. Plus, your E-bike must conform to the standard safety requirement. In the following article, we will discuss the various requirement put forth by the authorities for an e-bike to qualify as a legal vehicle.

For an electric bike to qualify as “an electrically assisted bicycle” under the state laws, it needs to have a seat and fully operable pedals for human propulsion. Also, the bike must satisfy the ‘Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards’. The rated power of the motor mounted on the bike must not exceed 1000 watts. The maximum speed limit for the bike is kept modest at 20 mph. the bike must cease to function when brakes are applied on either two or three wheels. In order to ride the bike, the user must be at least 16 and must possess a valid driver’s license.

All the normal traffic rules apply to the bike. Electric bike is not allowed to be used in the night!

The state of Massachusetts is known for its world famous MIT. Every geek in the world wants to at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT is responsible for churning out world’s best engineers every year. Modern engineering is getting revolutionized at MIT. Green technologies are being born at MIT. But in this article, we are going to discuss regulations concerning electric bicycles and not the MIT.

The state of Massachusetts defines electric bicycles under the category of ‘motorized bicycle’. A motorized bicycle is a pedal bicycle which has a helper motor or it is a non-pedal bicycle which has an internal combustion type motor with a cylinder capacity of not more than 50cc. The electric bike can have an automatic transmission and the speed limit for the bike is kept modest at 30 miles per hour. Minimum age for riding the bike is 16 and one must always wear a proper helmet. And if you are carrying a passenger, then that person must also wear a helmet. The protective headgear must conform to the minimum standards of construction and performance. Also one must possess a proper driver’s license. The electric bicycle can be used on all public ways except express state highways where they are strictly prohibited!

The state of Maryland defines electric bicycles under the category of ‘moped’. By definition, concerning electric bicycles, we can say an electric bicycle is a vehicle designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of motor. Motor can be an internal combustion engine or electric type. If it is internal combustion type then the cylinder capacity is limited to 50cc. and if it is electric type then the rated power for the motor is 1.5 KW. But as our concern is electric bicycle, we will restrict our discussion to electric bikes only.

In order to use electric bikes in the state of Maryland, you do not require any kind of registration or insurance. But a valid driver’s license is required in order to drive the bicycle. One does not require wearing a helmet while riding but if you are under the age of 16 then you must wear it while riding. Also, if you are under the age of 18, you must obtain parental consent in order to get a motor operator’s permit. Electric bikes cannot be utilized on sidewalks and roadways with posted speed in excess of 50 miles per hour.

Electric bike are excluded from the definition of ‘motor vehicle’ under the section 11-135 of the Maryland transportation code.

We were discussing regulations controlling the use of electric bikes in the United States of America in the previous series of articles. In the new series, we will continue our discussion on the same topic. Here, we will begin our discussion with the state of Kentucky. Kentucky is a well known state within the US but what made Kentucky world famous is a brand that we all have tasted: KFC! We all have tasted the spicy Kentucky Fried Chicken at least once. But that’s not what we are going to discuss here. In the following article, we will discuss all the regulations concerning electric bicycles.

Under the Kentucky law, all types of electric bikes come under the category of ‘moped’. In order to use the electric bicycles, you need not register or have insurance. All that you need is a valid driver’s license. While riding, you must wear a helmet. By the definition of moped, concerning electric bikes, the law says; a motorized bicycles with a step-through type frame which may or may not have pedals. The rated power of the motor must not be more than 2 KW. The bike can have an automatic transmission without any clutch. Speed limit for the bike is kept modest at 30 miles per hour!