4 ms·

I'm not sure about other states, but in CA you still need a special license, the same as a motorcycle, to ride a moped. I'm sure this would be the biggest bloc

I'm not sure about other states, but in CA you still need a special license, the same as a motorcycle, to ride a moped. I'm sure this would be the biggest blocker.

kingnothing 8y ago
In California it's actually based on how powerful the scooter is. Under 150cc doesn't require a motorcycle endorsement. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/motorcycles/motorcycles https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/motorcycles/motorcy...
- runin2k1 8y ago
  That page indicates that you do need an M1 for motor driven cycles(less than 150cc), and an M1 or M2 for Mopeds(which is news to me).
- aeternus 8y ago
  I don't think this is correct. According to that link: A motor-driven cycle has 149cc or less engine size. CVC §405 A motor-driven cycle has to be registered and the driver must have a motorcycle license (M1).
- lylecubed 8y ago
  https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php For electric mopeds, it's based on horsepower, not engine size.
drewrv 8y ago
I don't know how it applies to electric bikes, but in most states you're ok if the engine is < 50cc.
- namibj 8y ago
  Can you get nice downsized engines for these? I.e., with a turbo, direct injection and such?
beckler 8y ago
In GA, as long as the engine size is less than 50cc, then you don't need a license plate or a special license. But you can't drive it on the interstate and most major highways, for obvious reasons.
aeternus 8y ago
The electric moped companies like Scoot are somehow getting around this. They must cap top speed at 20mph so that a license is not required. They do recommend an in-person training course, but you can also simply watch a series of videos on their app, no special license required.
- lylecubed 8y ago
  30mph. And they recently lobbied the state to increase the horsepower limit from 2 to 4. https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php
  - namibj 8y ago
    They should rather keep the speed and abolish or sufficiently increase the power, as to keep the speed when going uphill.
    - lylecubed 8y ago
      Tell me about it. I was a scoot customer back when their scooters only had 2hp. I was routinely passed by cyclists when going up even a modest hill in SF.
      - s0rce 8y ago
        Are they super heavy? 2hp is 1500 watts, way more than most cyclists can put out (few hundred watts).
        lylecubed 8y ago
        Yes. Scoot uses a vespa style electrical "motor scooter", not an e-bike. I would not be able to carry it up my porch stairs and into my apartment. :)
asveikau 8y ago
There is already a company operating for years in San Francisco, Scoot, which I believe does M2-class electric scooters and doesn't require M class licenses. (From my memory of their FAQs, I think California law allows you to ride M2-class vehicles with a class C, subject to some constraints.) They go to about 30 mph.

I'm not sure about other states, but in CA you still need a special license, the same as a motorcycle, to ride a moped. I'm sure this would be the biggest blocker.

kingnothing 8y ago

In California it's actually based on how powerful the scooter is. Under 150cc doesn't require a motorcycle endorsement. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/motorcycles/motorcycles https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/motorcycles/motorcy...

runin2k1 8y ago
That page indicates that you do need an M1 for motor driven cycles(less than 150cc), and an M1 or M2 for Mopeds(which is news to me).
aeternus 8y ago
I don't think this is correct. According to that link: A motor-driven cycle has 149cc or less engine size. CVC §405 A motor-driven cycle has to be registered and the driver must have a motorcycle license (M1).
lylecubed 8y ago
https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php For electric mopeds, it's based on horsepower, not engine size.

drewrv 8y ago

I don't know how it applies to electric bikes, but in most states you're ok if the engine is < 50cc.

namibj 8y ago
Can you get nice downsized engines for these? I.e., with a turbo, direct injection and such?

beckler 8y ago

In GA, as long as the engine size is less than 50cc, then you don't need a license plate or a special license. But you can't drive it on the interstate and most major highways, for obvious reasons.

aeternus 8y ago

The electric moped companies like Scoot are somehow getting around this. They must cap top speed at 20mph so that a license is not required. They do recommend an in-person training course, but you can also simply watch a series of videos on their app, no special license required.

lylecubed 8y ago
30mph. And they recently lobbied the state to increase the horsepower limit from 2 to 4. https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php
- namibj 8y ago
  They should rather keep the speed and abolish or sufficiently increase the power, as to keep the speed when going uphill.
  - lylecubed 8y ago
    Tell me about it. I was a scoot customer back when their scooters only had 2hp. I was routinely passed by cyclists when going up even a modest hill in SF.
    - s0rce 8y ago
      Are they super heavy? 2hp is 1500 watts, way more than most cyclists can put out (few hundred watts).
      - lylecubed 8y ago
        Yes. Scoot uses a vespa style electrical "motor scooter", not an e-bike. I would not be able to carry it up my porch stairs and into my apartment. :)

asveikau 8y ago

There is already a company operating for years in San Francisco, Scoot, which I believe does M2-class electric scooters and doesn't require M class licenses. (From my memory of their FAQs, I think California law allows you to ride M2-class vehicles with a class C, subject to some constraints.) They go to about 30 mph.