TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
California Senate Bill 1167 will bar sellers from marketing devices that exceed specified motor and speed limits as e-bikes, starting Jan. 1, 2027. European Cycling Industries is calling for tougher enforcement against tuning kits and non-compliant imports, while a product roundup also covers a semi-solid-state-battery cargo bike, a crowdfunding conversion kit and Lime subscriptions through a UK cycle-to-work scheme.
California’s Senate Bill 1167 will set clearer rules for which electric two-wheelers sellers can market as e-bikes, taking effect on Jan. 1, 2027. The development is part of a wider set of e-bike industry updates: European Cycling Industries is asking EU policymakers to act against tuning kits and non-compliant products, while companies are promoting a cargo bike with a semi-solid-state battery and a compact conversion kit.
Under the California bill, a qualifying e-bike must have pedals, a motor rated at 750 watts or less, and a maximum speed of 20 mph when using a throttle or 28 mph with pedal assistance. Devices that exceed those limits cannot be marketed or sold as e-bikes. Legal e-bikes must also carry a label stating their class and maximum speed. The rules target point-of-sale descriptions; the source report does not set out other enforcement details.
In Europe, European Cycling Industries (ECI) has issued a Manifesto for a Safe and Compliant EU Market. It calls for banning the sale of tampering products such as speed chips and tuning dongles, and for action against overseas online retailers that sell non-compliant e-bikes or tuning hardware directly to consumers. ECI says 89 bike and retail companies have signed the manifesto, including Trek, Tern, Bosch, Bafang and Amazon. The group plans to present it to EU policymakers; this is an industry proposal, not an enacted EU ban.
Other items in the roundup remain at different stages. German company Lemmo is taking reservations for its full-suspension longtail cargo bike, which uses a 960Wh semi-solid-state battery, according to the report. Its stated reservation price is €1,890 with a €39.90 deposit, before a planned Kickstarter campaign at a higher price. The Spiny 2 friction-drive conversion kit is available to back on Kickstarter; the company advertises up to 750W, but says output is limited to 250W in UK and EU markets. Lime has also added eligible e-bike subscriptions to the UK’s Cyclescheme program in listed Lime service areas.
Clearer Labels, Uneven Enforcement
California’s rules address a practical safety and consumer-information problem: buyers may have difficulty distinguishing a regulated e-bike from a more powerful electric motorbike when products are presented under the same label. Requiring class and speed information, and restricting the e-bike name to devices within stated limits, could give buyers and families a clearer basis for understanding what they are purchasing. The law does not take effect until 2027, so its results cannot yet be assessed.
The EU manifesto points to a different challenge: rules for compliant products may be less effective if tuning hardware and non-compliant bikes remain readily available through online sales. ECI’s calls could affect manufacturers, retailers and riders if policymakers adopt them, but the manifesto itself creates no legal obligations. The product and subscription announcements also show how the market is expanding across cargo transport, conversion kits and shared-bike access, with each carrying separate questions about performance, usability and local eligibility.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Rules and Products in Motion
California’s bill responds to ongoing disagreement over the term “e-bike,” particularly where high-powered electric motorbikes are sold or described in ways that may confuse consumers. The report characterizes the bill as a more limited approach than a blanket e-bike ban in New Jersey, but provides no details about that state’s policy or a direct comparison of enforcement systems.
The European proposal is an industry-led effort rather than a government decision. Its signatories include manufacturers and retailers with interests in a market where compliant products compete with cheaper offerings that ECI says may not meet the same safety and regulatory requirements. Separately, Lemmo’s reservation offer precedes its planned crowdfunding campaign, and Spiny 2’s Kickstarter listing means its stated capabilities are product claims rather than independent test findings.
The Lime-Cyclescheme arrangement applies to e-bike subscriptions, not e-scooters, in UK Lime zones named in the report: London, Milton Keynes, the West Midlands, Nottingham and Oxford. The reported subscription cost varies by taxpayer rate. These service details are distinct from the California law and the EU policy proposal, though all form part of the same industry roundup.
“Bicycle safety starts with knowing what your bike can do and following the safety requirements that come with it.”
— Catherine Blakespear
Policy and Product Questions Remain
California implementation details are not specified in the report beyond the bill’s sales and marketing restrictions, labeling requirements and effective date. It does not describe penalties, inspection procedures or how regulators will handle online listings. The law’s impact on sales and rider behavior is not yet known.
In the EU, there is no confirmed decision to adopt ECI’s proposed ban or enforcement measures. The manifesto’s signatories and requests are reported, but the response from policymakers is not. Claims about the Lemmo battery being smaller, lighter and less prone to thermal runaway come from the company, and the report supplies no independent testing. Spiny’s advertised power and rapid installation are likewise not independently verified in the material. The roundup gives no further product delivery timeline or details on Lime subscription availability beyond the named service areas.
Upcoming Dates and Decisions
The next fixed milestone for California is Jan. 1, 2027, when SB 1167 is due to take effect. Before then, further information may clarify how sellers must apply the marketing and labeling provisions and how compliance will be checked.
ECI says it will present its manifesto to EU policymakers and seek stronger compliance measures. Whether the EU or individual member states will propose rules, and on what timetable, remains open. Lemmo is taking reservations ahead of a planned Kickstarter campaign, while Spiny 2 is seeking backers through its own campaign. Readers considering either product should check current campaign terms, delivery information and applicable local power rules. Lime’s subscription offer is available through Cyclescheme in participating UK Lime zones; availability and price depend on the scheme and taxpayer rate described in the report.
Key Questions
What will California’s new e-bike law change?
Starting Jan. 1, 2027, devices exceeding the bill’s motor or speed limits cannot be marketed or sold as e-bikes. Qualifying e-bikes must have pedals, a motor of 750 watts or less, and a label identifying their class and maximum speed.
Has the EU banned e-bike tuning kits?
No EU-wide ban is confirmed in the report. European Cycling Industries is calling for a ban on sales of tampering products and for action on non-compliant online sales, but policymakers have not been reported as adopting the proposal.
What is the Lemmo cargo bike’s battery claim?
The Lemmo longtail cargo bike is listed with a 960Wh semi-solid-state battery. The company says the battery is smaller, lighter and less prone to thermal runaway; the report does not provide independent verification of those claims.
Where can Lime subscribers use Cyclescheme?
The reported arrangement covers Lime e-bike subscriptions in participating zones including London, Milton Keynes, the West Midlands, Nottingham and Oxford. It does not apply to Lime e-scooters.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
