USA: Planned regulation for electric bikes

 

USA is considering the issuance of a new regulation for electric bikes.

For this purpose, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) is considering developing a rule to address the risk of injury associated with electric bicycles (e-bikes). It has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) which initiates a rulemaking proceeding under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).

Comments regarding concerning the risk of injury associated with mechanical hazards of e-bikes, potential regulatory alternatives, the economic impacts of various approaches, existing voluntary standards, and plans to develop new standards to address these risks are welcome.

The purpose of this ANPR is to collect information related to potential regulatory requirements to address the risk of injury associated with mechanical hazards of e-bikes. Electrical hazards such as those related to batteries are not within the scope of this ANPR. CPSC is separately working to address those hazards for e-bikes and other micromobility products.

An e-bike is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor. E-bikes are sold and marketed for adults and children. CPSC is aware of an increasing trend of injuries and deaths from falls and collisions associated with e-bikes. CPSC estimates there were 53,100 emergency department (ED)-treated injuries from 2017 to 2022 associated with e-bikes.

Currently, CPSC has a mandatory standard for bicycles and low-speed e-bikes under the FHSA at 16 CFR part 1512. ASTM also has voluntary standards for bicycles, but they are not specific to e-bikes. Existing international standards for e-bikes under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and European Standards (EN) only apply to a subset of e-bike products.

The full text of the advance notice of proposed rulemaking is available HERE

To find out more about regulatory requirements for electric bikes and scooters, please contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.