The laws
STEARNS'S ELECTRIC BICYCLE LEGISLATION TO GO TO PRESIDENT FOR APPROVAL HOUSE PASSED THE MEASURE LAST YEAR AND SENATE APPROVED IT YESTERDAY WASHINGTON, NOV. 19, 2002 - The Senate yesterday approved H.R. 727, offered by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala), to reduce regulatory burdens on electric bicycles. The House had approved the measure in 2001 and it now goes to the President for his approval. "Low-speed electric bicycles offer consumers the convenience of assisted power," explained Stearns. "These bikes give their riders, often seniors, the disabled, and law enforcement officers, some extra help in pedaling long distances and uphill." Currently, low-speed electric bikes are regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which subjects these bicycles to the same standards of motor vehicles. "Under NHTSA's jurisdiction, electric bikes will be required to have additional equipment such as those on trucks and cars," said Stearns. These requirements would upset the weight and balance of the bicycles, as well as increase their prices. H.R. 727 will transfer jurisdiction over low-speed electric bikes from NHTSA to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which regulates consumer products such as bicycles. Added Stearns, "These are bicycles and should be regulated as bicycles." The legislation applies to low-speed electric bikes with less than one-horse power engines and a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. - - - US pass electric bike law Senate allows a generous one horsepower and 20mph before you get classed as a motorbike... This contrasts with UK legislation which currently allows just 250W (about a third of a horsepower) and 15mph before the motor has to cut out. The US law will be particularly welcomed by pedal-powered workbike operations. Heavy pedal-powered load-carrying bikes often need fairly hefty electric assist in hilly areas. The bill was helped on its way by US electric company ZAP. Their press release follows: ******** SEBASTOPOL, Calif., Nov. 27 : Electric transportation developer ZAP today issued praise for a new law that would reduce the regulatory burdens on electric bicycles. According to legislative reports, the United States Senate has approved H.R. 727 and President Bush has signed it into law. The bill, introduced by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala, Florida), passed the house in 2001. Currently, low-speed electric bikes are regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which subjects these bicycles to the same standards as motor vehicles. "Low-speed electric bicycles offer consumers the convenience of assisted power," explained Stearns. "These bikes give their riders, often seniors, the disabled, and law enforcement officers, some extra help in pedaling long distances and uphill. These are bicycles and should be regulated as bicycles. Under NHTSA's jurisdiction, electric bikes will be required to have additional equipment such as those on trucks and cars. These requirements would upset the weight and balance of the bicycles, as well as increase their prices." H.R. 727 will transfer jurisdiction over low-speed electric bikes from NHTSA to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which regulates consumer products such as bicycles. The legislation applies to low-speed electric bikes with less than one-horse power and a maximum of 20 miles per hour. "This new law represents a tangible step forward for clean transportation technologies," said ZAP spokesperson Alex Campbell. "An actual human-electric hybrid vehicle, the electric bicycle is one of the most energy efficient forms of transportation available today, achieving the equivalent of 1000 miles per gallon in terms of fueling costs. We are pleased that governments around the world are starting address these forms of transportation." Campbell added that ZAP help pioneer the electric bike market back in 1994 and in addition to being a sponsor of HR 727 also helped pass legislation for electric bikes and scooters in California.
