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California Senate Bill 1167 will bar devices outside specified pedal, motor and speed limits from being marketed or sold as e-bikes starting Jan. 1, 2027. European Cycling Industries is separately urging EU policymakers to act against tuning kits and non-compliant online sales; the same industry roundup also reports on a semi-solid-state-battery cargo bike, a crowdfunded conversion kit and Lime subscriptions through a UK commuter scheme.
California’s Senate Bill 1167 will require e-bikes sold or marketed in the state to meet defined pedal, motor and speed criteria from Jan. 1, 2027, while a European cycling industry group is pressing EU policymakers to curb sales of tuning kits and non-compliant e-bikes. The developments, reported in an ebiketips roundup, address how e-bikes are classified and how rules are enforced, alongside updates on a cargo-bike battery, a conversion kit and Lime’s UK subscription access.
Under SB 1167, a device marketed or sold as an e-bike in California must have pedals and a motor rated at 750 watts or less. The report says the permitted maximum speed is 20 mph with throttle assistance or 28 mph with pedal assistance. Devices exceeding those wattage or speed thresholds cannot be marketed or sold as e-bikes under the law, and compliant bikes must carry a label showing their class and maximum speed. The bill is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
In Europe, European Cycling Industries (ECI) has issued a Manifesto for a Safe and Compliant EU Market. The group calls for a ban on the sale of tampering products, including speed chips and tuning dongles, and says overseas online sellers of non-compliant bikes and hardware should be held accountable. The manifesto carries signatures from 89 bike and retail companies, the report says, including Trek, Tern, Bosch, Bafang and Amazon. ECI plans to present it to EU policymakers; the manifesto is an industry proposal, not a new EU rule.
The roundup also reports that German company Lemmo is taking reservations for its Lemmo 3, a full-suspension longtail cargo e-bike with a 960Wh semi-solid-state battery. The company says the battery is smaller, lighter and less prone to thermal runaway; those are manufacturer claims. A €39.90 reservation deposit is listed against a €1,890 price ahead of a Kickstarter campaign, after which the stated price is €3,390. These prices and the bike’s production and delivery details should be treated as information reported by the source, not independent testing.
Clearer Labels, Tougher Enforcement
California’s rule targets a practical problem for buyers and families: a device sold as an e-bike may have performance closer to a motorbike. Defining qualifying products by pedals, motor rating and assisted speed, and requiring class and speed labels, could make it easier to distinguish regulated e-bikes at the point of sale. The change will not begin until 2027, and the roundup does not describe how the state will monitor sellers or apply penalties.
ECI’s campaign addresses a different part of the market. Its focus is on tuning hardware and online sales that it says undermine compliance and put responsible businesses at a disadvantage. If policymakers take up the proposals, sellers and consumers could face tighter controls, but no EU measures have been adopted in the report. The product news also shows how fast-changing batteries and conversion devices bring questions of performance, safety and regulatory compliance into everyday purchasing decisions.
750W electric bike with pedal assist
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Two Different Regulatory Tracks
The California measure concerns what businesses may market or sell as an e-bike within the state; it sets criteria rather than describing a general ban on all electric two-wheelers. Senator Catherine Blakespear, who sponsored the bill, said some parents may buy high-powered devices without understanding what they are. The report contrasts California’s approach with a blanket e-bike ban in New Jersey, but provides no detail on that policy.
ECI’s manifesto is a call for action across the EU rather than an enacted law. It asks policymakers to address tampering products and non-compliant imports and direct-to-consumer sales. The distinction matters: the California bill has a stated effective date, while the European initiative remains a proposal from industry organizations awaiting consideration by policymakers.
“Compliant European manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers increasingly compete against products that may not meet the same requirements for safety, performance and regulatory compliance and are usually offered at a lower price.”
— European Cycling Industries manifesto, as quoted in the report
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Enforcement and Product Details Pending
The report does not specify how California will enforce SB 1167, what penalties sellers may face, or how existing stock and online listings will be handled before and after the 2027 start date. It also does not say whether the EU will act on ECI’s manifesto, or on what timeline. The number of company signatories is reported by the source, but no further details on the proposal’s reception among policymakers are provided.
For the Lemmo 3, the company’s battery-safety and size claims have not been independently verified in the material supplied. The report does not provide delivery dates or test results. Spiny’s Spiny 2 conversion kit is being offered through Kickstarter, where delivery and performance are not guaranteed by the report; its stated output is up to 750W, limited to 250W in the UK and EU. The roundup also gives no independent assessment of installation, tyre wear or real-world performance.
semi-solid-state battery cargo bike
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2027 Start and EU Review
California’s stated milestone is Jan. 1, 2027, when SB 1167 takes effect. Before then, further guidance on labeling and enforcement would clarify how the rules apply to retailers and products already on sale. ECI says it will present its manifesto to EU policymakers; any formal proposal, legislative timetable or adopted restrictions remain to be announced in the reported material.
Separately, buyers interested in the Lemmo 3 can reserve through the company’s site, with a Kickstarter campaign expected to affect the listed price. Spiny 2 backers are relying on the crowdfunding campaign’s terms and delivery plans. The Lime cycle-to-work offer is reported as available in UK Lime zones including London, Milton Keynes, the West Midlands, Nottingham and Oxford, for e-bikes rather than e-scooters.
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Key Questions
What does California’s new e-bike law require?
From Jan. 1, 2027, a device marketed or sold as an e-bike must have pedals, a motor rated at 750W or less, and meet the reported assisted-speed limits: 20 mph with a throttle or 28 mph with pedal assist. Compliant bikes must also display their class and maximum speed.
Has the EU banned e-bike tuning kits?
No EU ban is reported as adopted. European Cycling Industries is calling for one and plans to present its manifesto to EU policymakers.
What is the Lemmo 3 battery claim?
The Lemmo 3 is reported to use a 960Wh semi-solid-state battery. Lemmo says it is smaller, lighter and less prone to thermal runaway; the source material does not provide independent test results.
What are the reported limits for the Spiny 2 kit?
The crowdfunded friction-drive conversion kit is advertised at up to 750W, but the report says output is limited to 250W in the UK and EU. It is offered through Kickstarter, so fulfilment and real-world performance are not established by the report.
Can UK commuters use Lime through a cycle-to-work scheme?
The roundup reports that Lime subscriptions are available through Cyclescheme in participating UK Lime zones. The offer applies to Lime e-bikes, not e-scooters; availability and price depend on the scheme and taxpayer rate.
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