Existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power, and requires electric bicycles to comply with specified equipment and manufacturing requirements. Existing law requires manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles to apply a label that is permanently affixed to each electric bicycle that contains, among other things, the classification number of the electric bicycle, as specified. Existing law prohibits specified vehicles from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles, including a vehicle that is modified to attain a speed greater than 20 miles per hour on motor power alone or to have motor power of more than 750 watts. Existing law prohibits the sale of a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle such that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, revise the labeling requirements described above to require manufacturers and distributors to apply an etching, engraving, or label that is permanently affixed skyward on the frame of the electric bicycle and contains additional information, including the brand name and manufacturer or distributor of the electric bicycle. The bill would revise the above-described list of vehicles prohibited from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles, as specified, and include on the list, among other things, a vehicle that is capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed exceeding 28 miles per hour. The bill would require any incident report filed by a peace officer for an injury or crash involving an electric bicycle to include all of the information provided in the etching, engraving, or label described above or to indicate that a marking was not available. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2026, require any product or device sold in the previous 5 years as an electric bicycle that no longer meets the definition of electric bicycle as of January 1, 2026, to be subject to a written customer notification by the retailer or manufacturer that includes among other things, notification that the product or device no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle under state law. Because the bill would impose new requirements for electric bicycles, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
03/25/25 - Amended Senate: 312.5 VEH, 312.5 VEH, 24016 VEH, 24016 VEH