If a proposed new bill eventually becomes law, higher-speed electric bicycles may soon have a tougher row to hoe in California.

Electric bicycle speeds in the state, which uses a similar three-class system as most of the US, are limited to either 20 mph (32 km/h) for Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles or 28 mph (45 km/h) for Class 3 electric bicycles.

However, because electric bicycles are relatively simple to work on, it’s fairly easy for many owners to modify some of them to go even faster. In some cases, devices are available for purchase that can help e-bike owners do just that.

California Assembly Bill 1774 seeks to limit the sale of such devices that could help e-bike riders remove speed limits on their bikes.

The proposed legislation, which recently moved out of committee and is now headed to the larger assembly, “would prohibit a person from selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle such that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle.”

The goal is to prevent the proliferation of illegally fast electric bicycles, which would technically fall entirely outside the legal realm of bicycles. Instead, such out-of-class e-bikes would need to be reclassed as mopeds or motorcycles, which come with heavier regulatory burdens.

Higher speeds also mean longer stopping distances and more severe injuries in the event of a crash. Proponents of the bill argue that cities and municipalities may not be equipped to handle the increased speeds on their existing bike infrastructure, potentially leading to more accidents.

Moreover, insurance and liability issues become more complicated when e-bikes exceed their intended speed limits and enter into moped or motorcycle-level classes.

The bill’s goal is clear, though it might not be as effective as its authors hope. While devices that can be used to de-restrict electric bicycles do exist, they are actually quite rare in the field of e-bike hot-rodding.

It is much more common for e-bike owners to use built-in methods to remove speed limits built into the e-bikes, such as through software means, including changing user-accessible settings. There are also physical methods that don’t require any purchases, such as cutting a hidden “speed-limiting wire” or manipulating wheel magnets designed to interpret the bike’s current speed.

While the bill doesn’t directly address these types of modifications, the law that it is amending technically already makes such modifications illegal if they ultimately push the performance of the e-bike outside of the legally defined limits of electric bicycles, i.e., above either 20 or 28 mph speeds, depending on the class.

There are currently no laws in California limiting the top speed capabilities of cars or outlawing the hot-rodding of cars to travel faster than their manufacturer’s pre-designed limits.

A debate over speed

Supporters of the legislation argue that increasing the top speed of electric bicycles poses significant safety risks. Devices that override built-in speed limits can push speeds much higher, leading to dangerous situations on bike paths.

On the other hand, opponents of the bill believe that restricting the self-modification of privately owned e-bikes is an overreach that could hamper the advantages of such vehicles. They argue that many riders use faster electric bicycles responsibly and appreciate the additional power and speed for practical reasons, such as commuting over longer distances or keeping up with the speed of car traffic when forced to share the road in areas without sufficient bike lane infrastructure.

Is there a middle ground to be found?

The proposed bill comes at a time when a heated discussion has already been raging about the balance between safety and transportation benefits in the e-bike industry, especially among young riders.

While the need to protect public safety is undeniable, finding a solution that also supports the growth and benefits of environmentally-conscious electric bikes will be essential. What do you think? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

via: CBS8

Based on the all-electric Mullen THREE electric chassis cab, Mullen says the new PowerUP mobile charging platform provides increased job site versatility thanks to on demand, mobile DC fast-charging.

The Mullen PowerUP ships with its own 160 kW battery pack, with a modular design that’s capable of bringing up to 1 MWh wherever it’s needed, whether that’s a job site without a grid connection or a disaster relief effort. The mobile charging station delivers that power through two 60 kW DCFC ports, 2 20 kW L2 AC chargers, or a pair of 12V jumper terminals for getting ICE-powered vehicles going again. And … if all this sounds familiar, there’s probably two reasons for that.

The first is that the Mullen PowerUP is remarkably similar, visually, to a mobile EV charging truck shown by Mack Trucks back in March. Based on a Mack MD Electric and hauling a “renewable” natural gas gen set to provide electrical power, a concept version of the truck was shown at the ACT Expo in May, but remains “just” a concept.

The second is that Mullen already launched a PowerUP mobile EV charger last year. That “original” PowerUP was based on the larger, Class 5 Mullen FIVE and it, too, carried a gen set. This new PowerUP, meanwhile, is fully electric, and is more of a mobile BESS than a mobile generator with EV ports attached to it.

Mullen PowerUP mobile BESS

“We’re constantly innovating and adapting to meet the evolving needs of the industry,” said David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive. “The feedback on the initial PowerUP concept was overwhelmingly positive, but the market is clearly looking for a zero-emission solution. By leveraging our all-electric Mullen THREE, the new PowerUP delivers recharging at a higher level of scalability and performance while offering zero emissions for both the vehicle and power unit.”

Mullen is developing PowerUP at its High Energy Facility located in Fullerton, California. Mullen says its acquisition of battery pack production assets from Romeo Power have significantly accelerated the development of the truck as a fully battery-based mobile charger.

Electrek’s Take

I’ve been hyper-critical of Mullen over the years, but while I’m still unconvinced about the brand’s automotive/sporty-car aspirations, these guys are starting to win me over on the commercial truck side. They’re building solid-state batteries, delivering hundreds of trucks, have units in inventory, are building out their national dealer network, and they are absolutely terrifying the competition – many of whom are still a year or 18 months away from delivering their medium-duty cabover trucks to customers.

So, when it comes to Mullen, I’ll leave it like this: I’m starting to believe.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Mullen, via email.

The latest addition to Sunbelt Rentals’ ever-expanding lineup of zero-emission construction equipment is here, and it’s an all-electric skid steer set to be deployed on the Gateway project at UC Berkeley, California.

UC Berkeley’s Gateway will be the future home of the school’s computer and data science departments. Students there will explore technological solutions for an equitable and decarbonized future – making zero-emission equipment like the electric Bobcat T7X skid steer is a natural fit for this project.

And, more than that, it was one of the reasons Turner Construction won the job. “It’s all about supply and demand. The electric construction equipment market depends not just on the development of the technology itself, but on a contractors’ willingness to pilot, rent, and streamline that equipment too,” explains Emi LaFountain, Regional Sustainability Manager for Turner Construction. “It’s thrilling to be at the crux of both positions and be a part of that push for a lower-carbon job site.”

The Bobcat T7X features a 76.2 kWh powering a 107 hp electric drive motor and several other servos and axial motors that, together, are good for 7500 lbs. of breakout lift force … but the question of whether or not that’s enough to get the job done is still something that a number of fleet managers need to see to believe – which is why the ability to rent electric equipment like this from a company like Sunbelt is such a critical step towards mainstream adoption.

“We are grateful to be able to provide our customers with new technology that will aide in achieving their sustainability goals along with doing our part to provide environmentally friendly solutions in the construction equipment realm,” says Sunbelt Product Line Manager, Jenny Pratt. “Our customers will be able to operate outside of normal working hours and in applications where its’ diesel counterpart would not be suitable. This allows for increased productivity and quicker job completion.”

The deployment of the electric skid steer marks a second such “first” for Turner in California. The other being was the company’s pilot of the Volvo EC230 Electric 30 ton excavator initially piloted by Skanska earlier this year.

Electrek’s Take

I said it earlier in the article, but it’s worth repeating: the ability to rent electric equipment like this from a company like Sunbelt is such a critical step towards mainstream adoption.

In the same way that a rental car is so many people’s first experience with an electric car, a short-term rental may be that first experience an operator has with a battery-electric skid steer, wheel loader, or telehandler. As such, Sunbelt should be commended for adding BEVs to its fleet. Here’s hoping other companies step up as well.

SOURCES | IMAGES: Bobcat; Turner Construction.