Not much beats the feeling of fresh air and sunshine as you cruise on your new electric bike. It’s so freeing! The smiles and interest of onlookers are fun, and explaining your ride to people when you stop is enjoyable.
But the attention you could do without is the sight of flashing lights. It’s a gut-wrenching feeling no matter what mode of transportation you choose. Were you going too fast? Have you made a mistake and forgotten to make your e-bike roadworthy? Was your bike supposed to be registered or plated? At that moment, you realize maybe you didn’t do all the research before getting on the road, and it might just ruin the fun. Do electric bikes need to be registered? Good question.
New technology like e-bikes takes a little time to catch up with local and state regulations. If there is money to be made, you better believe lawmakers and law enforcement will take a hard look and determine what they can leverage to make the county coffers richer.
Global rules?
When Yamaha first started producing the first commercial e-bikes back in the early 1990s, they virtually flew under the radar since they were such a new twist on biking. Fetching high prices along with bulky technology kept the early pedal-assist and throttle-type e-bikes out of most people’s and garages.
In the early 2000s, e-bikes began to take shape thanks to advances in battery and electric motor technology. People were starting to take notice.
While many countries have begun mapping out what laws would be appropriate to regulate the riding of electric bicycles, it varies both abroad and here at home in the US. In North America, there are federal regulations that manufacturers must adhere to as far as the safety requirements and standards that go into building an e-bike.
So, no global rules and regulations exist. But most countries have some requirements. Here are the rules in the major English-speaking nations.
Australia
At the time of this writing, you do not need a license or registration to operate an e-bike in Australia. Each state has its own regulations regarding being road-worthy. Check with your local authorities for those requirements.
Canada
Called “power-assist bicycles” in Canada, e-bikes are not federally regulated. Each Province has their own set of rules and regulations. Most Provinces do not allow e-bikes over 500 watts or a max speed of over 32 km/h.
As of this writing, no Province requires a license or registration. But some have stringent safety requirements, so check with your local authorities.
United Kingdom
An electric bike rider must be at least 14 years of age in the UK. A bike with pedals and a maximum engine output of 250 watts does not need licensing or registration. Anything exceeding 250 watts has to be registered as a motorcycle or moped.
New Zealand
New Zealand requires all e-bikes over 300 watts to be registered and operated with a licensed driver. Anything under 300 watts is considered non-motorized and has no regulations.
What about here in the United States?
Like the helmet laws with motorcycle riding, electric bike laws differ from Oregon to Florida. With e-bikes essentially classified as motor-assisted cycles, almost every state has some type of regulations for owning and riding them.
A bevy of legislation began to be passed in 2015 across 33 states and is currently taking shape elsewhere. E-bike regulations are a moving target, with changes being made regularly, so it’s best to check your state’s current policies. As of this writing, most states do not require registration, but a few do. Check with your state’s website for more information.
Many states’ rules and regulations have to do with your e-bike classification. Below we explain the classifications.
An excellent resource for many state’s e-bike legislation can be found here.
E-Bike Classifications
“Electric bicycle” in the USA means a bicycle with fully operational pedals accompanied by an electric motor of fewer than 750 watts. E-bikes are further broken down into classifications.
1. Class 1 electric bicycle– Also known as a “low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is any bicycle with a motor that assists only when the rider is actively pedaling. The assistance also stops when the bike reaches 20 mph.
2. Class 2 electric bicycle– Or “low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle” indicates a bicycle with a motor that can be used solely to drive the bicycle, now pedaling necessary. The assistance also stops when the bike reaches 20 mph.
3. Class 3 electric bicycle– Or “speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle” is any bicycle with a motor that assists only when the rider is actively pedaling. The assistance also stops when the bike reaches 28 mph.
Our detailed reviews at Best Electric Bikes always include what class each e-bike falls into before you purchase. You can then check the rules and regulations in your state.
What Have We Learned?
Most major English-speaking countries do not require a license or registration to operate an electric bike. However, local rules and regulations vary between counties, provinces, and States.
It’s always best to check with your local authorities before you head out onto the open road. Shoot us a message at Best Electric Bikes if you have questions about your bike or safety measures.
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