TL;DR
Get garage and car supplies delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
California Senate Bill 1167 will bar sellers from marketing devices outside the state’s e-bike limits as e-bikes, beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Separately, a European cycling industry group is asking EU policymakers to act against tuning kits and non-compliant imports. The roundup also covers a semi-solid-state-battery cargo bike, a crowdfunded conversion kit and a Lime subscription option through a UK cycle-to-work scheme.
California has passed Senate Bill 1167, which sets clearer limits on what sellers can market as an e-bike, while a European cycling industry group is urging EU policymakers to crack down on tuning kits and non-compliant products. The developments, reported alongside new cargo-bike and conversion-kit launches, touch on how e-bikes are classified, sold and used.
Under the California measure, a qualifying e-bike must have pedals and a motor rated at 750 watts or less. Its maximum speed is capped at 20 mph with throttle assistance or 28 mph with pedal assistance. Devices above those thresholds may not be marketed or sold as e-bikes in the state. Legal e-bikes must also carry a label identifying their class and maximum speed. The rules take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
In Europe, the industry group European Cycling Industries (ECI) has issued a Manifesto for a Safe and Compliant EU Market. It calls for a ban on the sale of tampering products such as speed chips and tuning dongles, and for action against overseas online retailers selling non-compliant e-bikes and tuning hardware directly to customers. ECI says 89 bicycle and retail companies, including Trek, Tern, Bosch, Bafang and Amazon, have signed the document. The group plans to present it to EU policymakers.
The product news includes Lemmo’s longtail cargo bike, which the company says uses a 960Wh semi-solid-state battery. The bike is available for reservation with a €39.90 deposit, according to the report, ahead of a planned Kickstarter campaign. Separately, Spiny’s clip-on Spiny 2 conversion kit is being offered through Kickstarter. The company advertises up to 750W, but the report says output is limited to 250W in the UK and EU. These product specifications and performance descriptions come from the companies or the report, not independent testing.
Rules Target E-Bike Mislabeling
California’s law addresses a practical distinction for buyers and families: a pedal-assisted bicycle that meets legal limits is not the same kind of vehicle as a high-powered electric motorcycle. Requiring class and speed labels, and restricting how faster or more powerful devices are marketed, could make product categories easier to identify at the point of sale. The law does not take effect until 2027, so its implementation and enforcement remain ahead.
The EU campaign raises a related but separate issue: whether products modified to exceed legal limits, or sold without meeting relevant rules, can be controlled across online marketplaces and international supply chains. ECI’s manifesto is an industry request to policymakers, not an enacted EU ban. For riders, the distinction matters because a tuning modification can change a vehicle’s speed and regulatory status; the report does not specify how any proposed EU measures would be enforced.
The cargo-bike and conversion-kit launches show continued product experimentation, but buyers should distinguish marketing claims from verified performance or safety information. The source provides no independent assessment of the battery’s thermal behavior, the kit’s tyre wear or its real-world output.
750W electric bike with pedal assist
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Different Rules, New Products
California’s approach focuses on what can be sold as an e-bike, using motor power, assistance speed and labeling requirements. The report describes it as a more targeted alternative to a blanket prohibition, but does not detail enforcement procedures or penalties. The bill was introduced by state Senator Catherine Blakespear, who said in a press release that some parents may buy powerful motorbikes without understanding what they are.
ECI’s manifesto is an advocacy effort rather than a change in EU law. Its signatories include manufacturers, suppliers and retailers, and it argues that businesses following regulations face competition from cheaper products that may not comply. The report gives no timetable for EU policymakers to respond.
The other announcements are at different stages. Lemmo is taking reservations before its Kickstarter campaign, while Spiny 2 is seeking crowdfunding. The roundup also reports that Lime subscriptions can be purchased through the UK’s Cyclescheme in participating Lime service areas, including London, Milton Keynes, the West Midlands, Nottingham and Oxford. The option applies to e-bikes, not e-scooters, and the listed monthly cost varies by taxpayer category.
“Bicycle safety starts with knowing what your bike can do and following the safety requirements that come with it.”
— Catherine Blakespear
Enforcement and Product Claims
California’s rules are scheduled to begin in 2027, but the report does not explain how compliance will be checked, what penalties may apply or how sellers will handle devices that fall outside the defined e-bike limits. It also does not provide further details on the law’s implementation.
For the EU, no ban has been adopted in the material provided. The timing, scope and legal form of any policy response are not yet clear; ECI has said it will present its proposal to policymakers. Product details also remain limited: no independent test results are provided for Lemmo’s battery claims or the Spiny 2’s performance, installation or effect on tyre wear. The roundup notes potential setup and tyre-wear concerns for friction-drive systems but does not report testing of this kit.
Implementation and Campaign Milestones
California’s next key date is Jan. 1, 2027, when SB 1167 is due to take effect. Until then, details about how the state will apply its sales and labeling requirements may emerge. ECI says it plans to take its manifesto to EU policymakers; any formal proposal or regulatory decision would be a separate development.
Lemmo’s reservation offer precedes its planned Kickstarter campaign, and Spiny 2’s crowdfunding campaign is already open, according to the report. Prospective buyers will need to check campaign terms, final specifications, delivery arrangements and local legal requirements. Lime’s Cyclescheme availability is limited to participating UK service areas and e-bikes.
Key Questions
What does California’s new e-bike law require?
SB 1167 defines a qualifying e-bike as having pedals, a motor of 750 watts or less, and a speed limit of 20 mph with a throttle or 28 mph with pedal assistance. It also requires a label showing the bike’s class and maximum speed.
When do California’s new rules take effect?
The law is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. The report does not provide details about enforcement or penalties.
Has the EU banned e-bike tuning kits?
No EU ban is reported as having been adopted. European Cycling Industries is asking policymakers to prohibit the sale of tampering products and address non-compliant online sales.
What is unusual about Lemmo’s cargo bike?
The reported Lemmo longtail cargo bike uses a 960Wh semi-solid-state battery. The company’s claims about the battery are not independently tested in the source material.
Can UK Lime customers use Cyclescheme for e-scooters?
The reported Cyclescheme arrangement applies to Lime e-bike subscriptions, not e-scooters, and is available only in specified UK Lime service areas.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
