Originally Posted by
B. Carfree
Nope. An e-bike is merely restricted to 20 mph on flat ground when the only propulsion is the motor. Add in the human engine, and one can go much faster than 20 mph legally.
My understanding is that the electric motor
must cut out past 20 mph, based on my interpretation of that law (and of the CPSC rule allowing 750 watt 20 mph e-bikes to be classified as bicycles).
That said, there's a hack to get around that law.
A pair of mercury switches such that on truly level ground, neither of them is activated. But, at the slightest deviation from level IN EITHER DIRECTION, the speed limiter is killed.