Originally Posted by Robert C
The following is the Assembly Bill that added electric bicycles to the California Vehicle Code.
SECTION 1. Section 406 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
406. (a) A "motorized bicycle" or "moped" is any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device
... and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground.
(b) A "motorized bicycle" is also a device that has fully operative pedals for propulsion by
human power and has an electric motor that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts.
(2) Is incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on
ground level.
(3) Is incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power is used to
propel the motorized bicycle faster than 20 miles per hour.
Does anyone else find this confusing? It can propel an individual not more than 30 miles per hour ... but then later says 20 MPH. Also it says that it won't increase anyone's speed above 20 MPH. Gosh, even I can hit that for brief periods. So is the engine supposed to have a governor that turns off at 20MPH somehow? Or maybe even apply a brake to prevent a cyclist under his own power of pushing the thing faster than 25 MPH?
It doesn't even mention rider weight ... so how do they do it? Or does no one pay attention to the fine print?