I’m keeping an eye on this.
E-bike of Colorado sales manager Perry Fletcher said his sales and repair shop saw an increase in back-to-school sales to young riders and families this fall as the popularity of the battery-powered bicycles revs up.
But the kids’ excitement for their new rides is tempered by a recurring question from worried parents: Are they safe?
That can be a difficult question to answer. The federal government’s e-bike regulations are sparse, and efforts to expand them have stalled, leaving states and even counties to fill the void with patchwork rules of their own. Meanwhile, the seemingly endless variety of e-bikes for sale vary in design, speed, and quality.
In that environment, retailers like Fletcher aim to educate consumers so they can make informed decisions.
“We’re super careful about what comes in the shop because there are hazards,” he said.
Federal rules requiring safety standards for batteries in e-bikes and other devices such as e-scooters are in limbo after the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the independent federal regulatory agency meant to protect people against death and injury from bicycles and other consumer products, withdrew proposed regulations in August.
The commission then sent the rules for review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs inside the Office of Management and Budget, responding to President Donald Trump’s February executive order demanding that independent agencies like the CPSC be more aligned with White House priorities. In May, Trump fired three members of the commission who had been appointed by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, separate proposed rules by the commission to address injuries from mechanical failings have languished. Shira Rawlinson, the CPSC’s communications director, said it plans to update the status of both proposed rules.
That leaves e-bikes subject to existing standards written for traditional bicycles and which the commission has said, based on a preliminary assessment, aren’t adequate to reduce the risk of e-bike injuries. Colorado, Minnesota, and Utah recently passed laws regulating e-bikes to fill the gap.
The laws address issues such as battery fire risks and rider safety and seek to distinguish lower-speed e-bikes from faster e-motos, or electric motorcycles, which can reach top speeds of 35 miles an hour or faster. No federal law dictates the age at which someone may operate an e-bike, but more than half of states have age restrictions for who can operate Class 3 bikes, which reach a top speed of 28 miles an hour, while two California counties recently set a minimum age to operate Class 2 bikes, with their 20 mph top speed.
“The biggest issue is e-bikes that switch from a power-assisted bike to essentially a motorized scooter,” said Democratic state Rep. Lesley Smith, who co-sponsored Colorado’s bill.
[…]
Vehicles claiming to be both e-bikes and e-motos fall into the cracks between two regulatory agencies, the CPSC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said Matt Moore, general and policy counsel for PeopleForBikes, a trade association for bicycles, including e-bikes.
PeopleForBikes wants the traffic safety administration to stop shipments of or take other legal action against e-motos that are labeled as e-bikes and do not comply with federal standards, Moore said.
If the federal government won’t act, states should clarify their laws to define e-motos as off-road dirt bikes or motor vehicles that require licenses, he said. In October, California defined e-motos, which it requires to display an identification plate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles for use off-highway.
I’ve been e-bike-curious for awhile, and a recent opportunity to ride one only increased that. As an empty-nester household now, we have somewhat different local transportation needs than we used to. We currently have an older model electric car as the “run errands around town” vehicle, and I think an e-bike could largely supplant it, at a lesser cost and with a smaller footprint in the garage. I’m wary of not just safety standards but of the longer-term viability of any particular model – like, where do you go and what do you do for repairs, and how screwed are you if a particular manufacturer goes belly-up? I don’t really want there to be a massive consolidation in the market, since that does no one any good, but some kind of coalescing around standards would be nice. At some point in the next year or two, I’ll want to make some decisions on where this stands.
UPDATE: The NYT Morning newsletter from November 30 also addressed this topic.
As I have mentioned I have been using an ebike extensively for the past six years. You have my email address, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have via email. I don’t have any experience with commercial ebikes now available unfortunately. I have seen a number of ebike reviews in Ars Technica, the reviewer is a tall guy and frequently complains that the bikes aren’t made for someone his size. What I have found but isn’t mentioned much is that at 18 mph and above I cannot pedal comfortably anymore, I have to fake pedal to keep the assist engaged. This despite a large crank gear and tiny rear sprocket.
For the sake of your readers who may also be ebike curious I will offer the following observations/advice. On my bike the lowest level of assist makes the bike try to go 15 mph or so. Since I am able to pedal comfortably at this speed that is my usual cruising range. This is faster than most people ride an ordinary bike, so brakes are important. As with any bike use of front brakes can send you off the front of the bike so you must learn to use mostly back brakes when emergency braking. Wear bright clothing, and beware of aggressive/impulsive drivers who will try to go in front of you. Please, park trails have speed limits, don’t be a jerk, there are often families with young kids trying out kid bikes.
Be aware of your battery voltage when charging. You can get a cheap volt meter at Harbor Freight. Lithium ion batteries should not be fully charged or fully discharged, it is bad for a 36 volt battery to be charged to over 40 volts. Don’t leave it on a charger for long periods or overnight unless you have a smart charger. I have a detachable battery, which is more convenient.
I do not have a mid- motor bike with torque sensing, which is supposedly the best setup. I have a 500W powered front geared hub, with both cadence sensor and throttle, which works fine for me. There is some hum/vibration some people might find annoying. You should definitely try out any bike you are considering, and expect to buy an expensive lock. And please, put your vanity aside and wear a helmet. Head injuries are not something you want to risk for you or your family.
I’ve been riding an e-bike (in addition to my “acoustic” bike) for about 15 months, and just had my bike tuned up (Blue Line Lab) after ~1200 miles. Trips to the grocery store (2 miles one-way, often around lunch-time when i’m working at home), trips to a friend’s place (4-miles), and commuting to work downtown (5-miles) are my most common trips. Shorter trips to the hardware store, the kolache shop, or the closest ice house for sports ball are other uses. I love it, especially as i’m age and medically developing weaknesses in my legs.
I suggest Micah Toll on Electrek.co for expanding your familiarity with the market.
I have a Rad Power model. They just filed for bankruptcy. I’m not worried about it. They’re sizable, and it seems common for 3rd parties to pick up the supply/support of vanishing brands.
Bill, I am curious about the range you are getting. I get about 10 miles from a 12 Ah battery, with the battery doing most of the work. I accept that my batteries might even be counterfeit, but they are consistent over different batteries and years. I also do not use the full capacity since I don’t know how much discharge is too much. I am always seeing bikes say 50-60 miles of range, I just do not believe it. One battery gets you to Galveston??