In what appears to be a first of its kind, a new law was just enacted in Arizona that seems to have swept up some electric bicycles in an effort to outlaw kids operating off-road vehicles.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has just signed into law Arizona Senate Bill 1567, which focuses on two key issues regarding off-highway vehicles (OHVs). The new law makes it a criminal offense for anyone to operate an OHV while consuming or possessing an open container of alcohol, and it also aims to prevent children from operating them by requiring a valid driver’s license and driver training. The former seems like a good idea, but it’s the latter that could pose a problem for kids riding recreational e-bikes.
The issue is the way Arizona defines OHVs. As stated in the new law, “An OHV is a motorized vehicle that is operated primarily off of highways and that is designed, modified or purpose-built primarily for recreational nonhighway all-terrain travel. An OHV includes a tracked or wheeled vehicle, utility vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, four-wheel drive vehicle, dune buggy, sand rail, amphibious vehicle, ground effects or air cushion vehicle and any other means of land transportation deriving motive power from a source other than muscle or wind.”
The legal definition of a “highway” is just a public road or street, not the colloquial highway we think of as high-speed roads. And while many e-bikes are designed for use on public roads, there are plenty of others, such as electric mountain bikes and trail bikes like Sur Ron-style light electric dirt bikes, that are obviously designed for non-road use. In Arizona’s broadly defined OHV category, technically these electric mountain bikes and other similar e-bikes could be swept up in the category of “transportation deriving motive power from a source other than muscle or wind,” i.e., a 250W to 750W e-bike motor.
In the US, electric bicycles are not regulated as motor vehicles at the federal level, but instead as consumer products just like all bicycles. However, Arizona’s state laws go further, painting with a broad enough brush to include some electric bicycles in the category of OHVs. While e-bikes designed for road use such as commuter, cargo, utility, and other road-going styles are likely safe as they are not considered “designed, modified, or purpose-built primarily for recreational nonhighway all-terrain travel”, there are several types of e-bikes, light electric trail bikes, electric mini-bikes and others that are certainly designed primarily for off-road all-terrain travel.
A young girl rides a Specialized Levo SL Kids model electric mountain bike
The new law, which was largely intended to prevent children from operating ATVs, side-by-side UTVs, and other similar off-road vehicles, lays out the penalties for underage violators operating an OHV in the state without a valid driver’s license.
For violators under 12 years old, the citation will be issued to the child’s parent or guardian. For violators between 12 and 15 years old, the citation can be issued to either the child or their parent/guardian.
Not only is electric mountain bike becoming a popular sport among teenagers, but there are even models such as the Specialized Levo SL Kids that are specifically designed for younger riders with smaller frames and reduced power.
Furthermore, even adult electric mountain bike riders could be impacted by this law if they don’t possess a valid driver’s license and haven’t completed Arizona’s upcoming OHV safety course.
Electrek’s Take
I’m not a lawyer here, but it seems like the law should have been crafted with a bit finer legalese to prevent this kind of bycatch from such a wide net. Unless Arizona’s goal was really to require a driver’s license to ride an electric mountain bike through a park, then someone screwed the pooch here. Sure, there have been sporadic e-bike bans before, but I don’t think the bill’s authors intended for this to apply to electric bicycles.
I’ve already heard from Arizona parents of kids who ride and who are working to get the law overturned or updated. With any luck, the state issues a clarification on the law to exclude off-road e-bikes or minibikes, many of which are popular with children as a common outdoor activity in the state. Without it, riding electric mountain bikes before getting a driver’s license is effectively illegal in the state of Arizona, at least unless you keep your fancy new eMTB on the pavement and tell the cop that it’s just a commuter with really good suspension.
This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a new ONYX RCR 80V electric moped, new lightweight e-bike motors, Aventon’s powerful update, California cops catching illegal e-bike riders with drones, a super lightweight new e-bike from Dahon, and more.
Today’s episode is sponsored by CYCROWN, an e-Bike company born from a passion for cycling. Its lineup now includes the new CYCROWN Dremax – a high-performance urban commuter e-bike now on sale in the US and Canada. Use Electrek50 to save $50 off your new eBike when you order.
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While much of the Western world is still figuring out how to get more people on electric bikes, China just flipped a switch, and the results are staggering. Thanks to a generous nationwide trade-in program rolled out around six months ago, China has seen an explosive surge in electric bicycle sales, with over 8.47 million new e-bikes hitting the road in the first half of 2025 alone.
The program, which offers subsidies to riders who trade in their old, often outdated electric bikes for newer, safer, and more efficient models, has sparked a new e-bike sale boom in a country already dominated by e-bike travel. In major provinces like Jiangsu, Hebei, and Zhejiang, over one million new e-bikes were sold in each region in just six months. That’s a tidal wave of e-bike sales.
The incentives vary depending on location and the model being traded in, but for many consumers, the subsidies cover a substantial portion of a new e-bike’s price – enough to turn a “maybe next year” purchase into a “right now” upgrade. And these aren’t just budget bikes either. The program has driven demand for higher-quality models with better batteries, safer braking systems, and more reliable electronics, accelerating both adoption and innovation across the industry.
The move has proven successful in replacing the millions of older models with lower-quality lithium-ion batteries that had posed safety risks around the country. Instead, China has pushed for higher-quality lithium-ion batteries, a return to a newer generation of higher-performance AGM batteries, and even interesting new sodium-ion battery options.
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Most e-bikes in China look more like what we’d consider seated scooters
According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, more than 8.4 million consumers have participated in the e-bike trade-in program so far, contributing to a sales increase of 643.5% year-over-year and more than doubling sales month-over-month. Meanwhile, production of new electric bicycles rose by nearly 28%, as manufacturers scrambled to meet demand. The sales boosts have already been seen in the financial reports of major industry players like NIU.
And it’s not just the big players benefiting – over 82,000 small independent e-bike dealers reported average sales increases of ¥302,000 (around US $42,000), giving a serious boost to local economies.
What’s particularly striking here is how fast this happened. The program was officially launched late last year as part of a broader effort to stimulate domestic consumption and phase out outdated vehicles and appliances. But while most analysts expected gradual growth, the e-bike sector responded much more quickly. In less than a year, the trade-in subsidies have reshaped the electric bicycle market, creating a consumer-driven boom that shows no signs of slowing.
For those of us watching from outside China, it’s hard not to wonder what might happen if other countries tried something similar. While most families in Chinese cities already own an electric bike and thus see this as an opportunity to trade it in for a newer model, Western countries like the US are still figuring out how to stimulate commuters into buying their first e-bike.
It’s too soon to know exactly how long the boom will last or whether the momentum will carry into 2026 and beyond. We’ve seen bicycle industry bubbles grow and burst before. But one thing’s clear: with the right incentives, even modest ones, it’s possible to ignite real, large-scale change. China just proved it with nearly 8.5 million new e-bikes to show for it.
And if you’re wondering what it looks like when a country takes electric micromobility seriously, this is it.
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Today was the official start of racing at the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025! There was a tremendous energy (and heat) on the ground at NCM Motorsports Park as nearly a dozen teams took to the track. Currently, as of writing, Stanford is ranked #1 in the SOV (Single-Occupant Vehicle) class with 68 registered laps. However, the fastest lap so far belongs to UC Berkeley, which clocked a 4:45 on the 3.15-mile track. That’s an average speed of just under 40 mph on nothing but solar energy. Not bad!
In the MOV (Multi-Occupant Vehicle) class, Polytechnique Montréal is narrowly ahead of Appalachian State by just 4 laps. At last year’s formula sun race, Polytechnique Montréal took first place overall in this class, and the team hopes to repeat that success. It’s still too early for prediction though, and anything can happen between now and the final day of racing on Saturday.
Congrats to the teams that made it on track today. We look forward to seeing even more out there tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some shots from today via the event’s wonderful photographer Cora Kennedy.
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