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January 18, 2026 – SACRAMENTO, CA — On Friday, Assemblymember Diane Papan (D–San Mateo) introduced Assembly Bill 1557 to strengthen California’s electric bicycle safety laws by clarifying that all e-bikes must be limited to 750 watts of maximum peak motor power, closing a loophole that has allowed increasingly powerful e-bikes to be marketed as street-legal.
While California law limits e-bike motors to 750 watts, it does not limit the motor capability to 750W of peak power. Many e-bikes sold in California and labeled as “750-watt” vehicles can deliver far greater bursts of power — allowing rapid acceleration and higher speeds that pose serious safety risks, particularly for young riders…