chillspike

Are they still considered bikes if they only go 20mph or cars?

I'd like to put a motor on one of these as long as it was still considered a bicycle:

https://www.rhoadescar.com/rcar/goboy.shtml
Thanx.

nwmtnbkr

New Jersey classifies pedal bikes with assist motors as mopeds. They have to be inspected, licensed and insured. The rider must be at least 15 years of age and have a license. In order to pass inspection, your e-bike will have to have certain equipment--headlight, tail lights, loud horn capable of being heard 100 feet away and adequate brakes. Here's a link to the New Jersey moped manual. The bigger issue is whether your DMV will be willing to inspect and issue a license to your e-bike. You might give them a call and ask about electric assist bicycles. FYI--motorized tricycles cannot be operated on public streets in New Jersey. Good luck.

https://moped2.org/laws/New-Jersey/Moped-Manual.htm

You really should contact your local DMV before buying an electric bike or conversion kit. In addition to being inspected and licensed, the bike will have to be titled and I'm not sure they'll be willing to issue a title for an e-bike.

chillspike

Wait a sec. I have to get a license and insurance to have a 20mph e bike???? WHAT???

Can someone else confirm this? If that is true that is a total and complete deal breaker to me.

This is not good.

Azreal911

Just took a look at that go boy, it's HEAVY! a tricycle might give you a better ride because that contraption being either 75lbs or 115lb the next model up adding a battery and motor is going to make it an elephant to ride on. Also the term bicycle is two wheels. Thats basically a pedal car i'm not sure where you can go with that and seems to take up most of a MUP if you have one in the area (it's 55" wide! (1.39 meters))

dygituljunky

If you make your 4-wheel electric-assist bike, don't bring it to Georgia. An Electric Assist Bicycle, according to Georgia law, has a maximum of 3 wheels. More wheels than that and it's defined as a Low-Speed Electric Vehicle (which, therefore, requires seatbelts, headlights, turn signals, wipers, and other FMVSS-mandated safety equipment).

dumbass 

I don't know about NJ but in Illinois the ebike regs include everything form 2 to 4 wheels. So an electric 4 wheeler has the same regs as a 2 wheel ebike.

nwmtnbkr

OP really needs to contact his local DMV. Since New Jersey treats all e-bikes as mopeds, the biggest obstacle may be the requirement to get title. However, given the fact that electric trikes cannot legally be ridden on public roads is a pretty good indicator that an electric quadracycle probably can't be, either.

RLSchell

You are only technically correct, but in practice that's not true. I've been rding an ebike in NJ for several years. I work for the state government and have consulted with the NJ MVC (not DMV). They basically honor the federal ebike law and do not title, register or inspect ebikes. (Mopeds are not inspected either, BTW.) But their policy on ebikes is not public and is more like a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing. I have asked them to amend the regulations to make EV's more clearly defined. It just hasn't been a priority with all the other crises in NJ gov't right now.

More to the OP's question, I'm pretty sure what you have in mind would NOT be street legal. If you want a genuine low speed electric vehicle, they do exist and are legal in NJ for use on roads rated at 25MPH (or 35MPH if approved by the municipality). If you try to convert the Rhoades, you'd need a bunch of safety equipment that would probably make it more practical to buy a real Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) instead.

chillspike

Thank you. That was very helpful. Perhaps trikes would fare better in nj?

nwmtnbkr

I will state this again. Any e-bike enthusiast who thinks there is a federal law that treats e-bikes as bicycles for purposes of operation is simply wrong. Prior to 2002, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) categorized all electric bicycles as mopeds for purposes of manufacturing safety standards. In 2002, after lobbying by major bicycle manufacturers that sell generic, low-powered electric bicycles that are street legal in the EU and parts of Asia that didn't want to meet the NHTSAA's safety regulations, Congress created the definition of "low-speed electric bicycle." See Public Law 107-319. The only impact of this definition is on manufacturers of electric bicycles; they now no longer need to worry about meeting more stringent safety standards set by the NHTSA for those e-bikes that meet the definition of "low-powered electric bicycle," i.e.," 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;" they now only have to meet safety standards for consumer bicycles set by the Consumer Product Safety Administration. This is a much lower bar. Manufacturers who make more powerful e-bikes must still meet the safety standards of the NHTSA.

Public Law 107-319 does not address the legality of operating an e-bike on public roads. Congress has left that up to the 50 states. You must look to your state's statutes to determine whether you can operate an e-bike legally and what conditions you may need to meet to operate your bike legally. Clearly, some states like New Jersey treat all e-bikes, regardless of their power, as mopeds for purposes of operating them on public roads. There is an outright ban on e-trikes. I believe the fine for operating an e-bike that is not licensed properly as a moped is $50. As for operating an e-trike (and possibly a 4-wheel electric go-kart) on public roads, I wouldn't be surprised if the state doesn't seize the vehicle as well as issue a fine. chillspike, you really need to check with your DMV.

dumbass