http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/state-electric-b... Covers the laws. Importantly:
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At the federal level, a 2002 law enacted by Congress, HB 727, amended the Consumer Product Safety Commission definition of e-bikes. The law defined a low-speed electric bicycle as “A two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.” The federal law permits e-bikes to be powered by the motor alone (a “throttle-assist” e-bike), or by a combination of motor and human power (a “pedal-assist” e-bike).
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However, it’s very easy to buy a wheel with a built-in motor that is more than that:
http://www.hi-powercycles.com/hpc-5000w-hub-motor-complete-k...
Get two of those and you’ve got a 10KW electric motorcycle that could probably hit 70+MPH easily.
There are also kits in the 2KW-4KW range that are much cheaper (~$500). If you ban these, you’d have to ban all electric motors, and “winding wire around spinning apparatus”...it’d be very untenable, and there are already laws in place governing max speed and power. We have the same thing for emissions in some states, and enforcement is slim to none. Basically, you have to just count on people using it responsible, just like with motorcycles / electric skateboards / electric wheelchairs / snowmobiles / dirt bikes / gopeds / mini bikes / pit bikes / go karts / pocket bikes / powered paragliders / RC cars etc etc.
How will EBikes be significantly different? All of these have legal uses and a small percentage of owners using them outside of their legally allowed scope.
I don’t think it’s a big enough problem to warrant more regulation. Also, more regulation != more enforcement. Will police carry portable dynos or ammeters and measure the output of your ebike? More likely is that idiots keeping up with traffic at 50MPH will get ticketed by police who notice. It’d actually be great IMO if you COULD have a light electric motorcycle that could go ~35-40, plate it like a motorcycle, and be allowed to ride on normal bike lanes and trails as long as you keep it under 15MPH or whatever the trail speed limit is.
Just like with “drones”, these have existed for decades, but now they’re a “problem” because any punter with a few hundred bucks can buy one ready to do stupid things with at a local shop or off Amazon.