US California State Passes Bill Legislating Electric Bicycle and Powered Mobility Device

SG 164/24

The California State Governor has signed a bill into law that requires storage batteries for electric bicycles and powered mobility devices must be tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with a specified standard.

On September 27, 2024, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1271 (Electric Bicycles, Powered Mobility Devices and Storage Batteries) into law, prohibiting the distribution, sale, lease, or offer for sale or lease of an electric bicycle or powered mobility device unless the battery has been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with a specified standard.

The bill also clarifies the definitions for ‘class 1 electric bicycle’ and ‘class 3 electric bicycle’, specifying that the motor cannot exclusively propel the bicycle, except under certain conditions.

Effective on January 1, 2026:

1. A person shall not distribute, sell, lease, or offer for sale or lease a storage battery, unless the storage battery meets either of the following:


2. A person shall not distribute, sell, lease, or offer for sale or lease a powered mobility device, unless the battery for the powered mobility device has been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with ANSI/CAN/UL 2272


3. A person shall not distribute, sell, lease, or offer for sale or lease an electric bicycle unless the storage battery for the electric bicycle has been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with a standard referenced in ANSI/CAN/UL 2849 or EN 15194, or other safety standard for electric bicycles as the office has established by rule
1. The storage battery is designed for a powered mobility device and has been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with ANSI/CAN/UL 2271 or other safety standard for powered mobility devices as the office has established by rule
2. The storage battery is designed for an electric bicycle and has been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with a battery standard referenced in ANSI/CAN/UL 2849, EN 15194, or other safety standard as the office has established by rule, or is part of a complete electrical system for an electric bicycle that has been tested by an accredited laboratory for compliance with ANSI/CAN/UL 2849, EN 15194, or other safety standard as the office has established by rule


4. Charging systems advertised, distributed, sold, leased, or offered for sale or lease for use with a particular electric bicycle, powered mobility device or storage battery shall be certified for use with that electric bicycle, powered mobility device or storage battery


5. A person shall not distribute, sell, lease, or offer for sale or lease an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system or storage battery unless the logo, wordmark, label or name of an accredited testing laboratory and the applicable certification standard used to show compliance is permanently affixed directly on the electric bicycle or its electrical system, the powered mobility device, the charging system or the battery of the electric bicycle or powered mobility device. A person shall not be required to display the logo, wordmark, label or name of an accredited testing laboratory if the electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system or storage battery is being sold or leased secondhand


6. A manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer of an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system or storage battery shall provide, upon request, a true and accurate copy of the test report for the product issued by the accredited testing laboratory

Effective on January 1, 2028, a person is prohibited from renting or offering for rental an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system or storage battery unless it has been tested for compliance with the specified standard.

SB 1271

Redefines ebikes in class 1 and class 3. Ebikes with throttles in these classes are no longer defined as ebikes – effective January 1, 2026.

According to SB 1271, the definition for ebike in the vehicle code will become:

1. A ‘class 1 electric bicycle’ or ‘low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle’ is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as provided in paragraph (4), that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour, and that is not capable of providing assistance to reach speeds greater than 20 miles per hour


2. A ‘class 2 electric bicycle’ or ‘low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle’ is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour


3. A ‘class 3 electric bicycle’ or ‘speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle’ is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as provided in paragraph (4), and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and is equipped with a speedometer


4. A class 1 or class 3 electric bicycle may have start assistance or a walk mode that propels the electric bicycle on motor power alone, up to a maximum speed of 3.7 mph (5.92km/h)

AB 1774

On July 2, 2024, the governor also signed AB 1774 into law. This clarifies an existing law that prohibits a person from tampering with or modifying an electric bicycle so as to change the speed capability of the bicycle, unless they appropriately replace the label indicating the classification required. This provision applies only if the bicycle continues to meet the definition of an electric bicycle.

With a global network of accredited laboratories and local expertise for your target markets, our bicycle, ebike and scooter services are unrivaled. Contact us for more information or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.