State Requirements For Use (Electric Bike Law By State)

While Federal law governs consumer product regulations for "low speed electric bicycles", as with motor vehicles and bicycles, regulation of how these products are used on public streets is subject to state vehicle codes. There is significant variation from state to state, as summarized below.

Comparison of state rules and regulations[edit]

• Identity: How exactly does legislation identify the electric bicycle?
• Type: How does the law define vehicle type?
• Max Speed: Maximum speed when powered solely by the motor.
• Max Power: Maximum motor power, or engine size, permitted.
• Helmet: Is usage of a helmet mandatory?
• Minimum Age: Operator's minimum age.
• Driver's License: Is a license or endorsement required for the driver?

State	Identity	Type	Max speed (mph)	Max power	Helmet	Min age	License
Alabama	Motor-driven cycle	Motorcycle	None	150 cc	Motorcycle helmet required	14	Yes, M class
Alaska	Motor-driven cycle	Motorcycle	None	50 cc		14	Yes, M class
Arizona	Motorized electric bicycle or tricycle	Bicycle	20	48 cc	No	None	No
Arkansas	Motorized bicycle	Bicycle	None	50 cc	Yes	10	Yes
California	Motorized Bicycle	Bicycle	20	1,000 W	Yes	16	No
Colorado	Electrical assisted bicycle	Bicycle	20	750 W	No	None	No
Connecticut	Bicycle with helper motor		40	2.0 bhp (1.5 kW) or 50 cc	yes	15	yes
Delaware	Bicycle	Bicycle	20	<750 watts	Under 16
District of Columbia	Motorized bicycle		35	1.5 hp (1.1 kW) or 50 cc		18	Yes
Florida	Electric-assist bicycle	Bicycle	20	None	No	16	No
Georgia	Electric bicycle	Bicycle	20	1,000 W	Under 16		no
Hawaii	Moped		30	2 hp	No	15	Yes
Idaho
Illinois	Low‑speed bicycle	Bicycle (625 ILCS 5/11‑1516)	20	None	No	16	No
Indiana
Iowa	Electric Bicycle	Bicycle	20, unless pedaling	750 watts	No	None	No
Kansas
Kentucky	Motorized bicycle	Moped	30	2.0 brake hp or 50 cc	no	16	yes
Louisiana
Maine	Motorized bicycle or tricycle		25	1.5 break hp			yes
Maryland	Moped		30	1.5 brake hp (1.1 kW) or 50 cc	yes		yes
Massachusetts	Motorized bicycle		25	50 cc	Yes	16	Yes
Michigan	Moped		30	100 cc	Motorcycle helmet required	16	Yes
Minnesota	Electric-Assisted Bicycle		20	1000w	No	15	No
Mississippi	Bicycle with a motor attached	Bicycle	None	None	No	None	No
Missouri
Montana	Bicycle	Bicycle Definition 61-8-102(2)(b)(ii)	30	2.0 bhp and <=50cc	No
Nebraska	Moped	Motorized Bicycle with Pedals	30	50cc or 2 bhp, whichever is less	Yes		Yes
Nevada
New Hampshire	Low-Speed Electric Bicycle	Bicycle	20	750 watts	Required Under 16	14	no
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York	Illegal
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon	Electric assisted bicycle	Bicycle	20	1000 W	Under 16	16	No
Pennsylvania	Pedalcycle with electric assist	Bicycle	20	750 W	No	16	No
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee			30		Yes	14 (restricted)	Yes
Texas	Electric bicycle	Bicycle	20	None	No	None	No
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

 

*Source: Wikipedia.com