Another US state wants to force registration for all e-bikes

As electric bicycles continue to grow in popularity and grab headlines, regulatory debates are heating up. More states are clamping down on how and where e-bikes can be ridden, and even what constitutes an e-bike.

Hawaii could soon become the latest US state to require registration for all electric bikes, as lawmakers advance a new bill aimed at tightening rules around micromobility devices.

According to local news KHON2, the legislation, which is nearing a final vote before heading to the governor’s desk, would introduce a one-time $30 registration requirement for all e-bikes in the state. It would also require manufacturer labeling that clearly identifies an e-bike’s class, top speed, and motor power.

On its face, the bill largely aligns with the widely adopted three-class e-bike system, formally defining Class 1, 2, and 3 electric bicycles with the usual speed and power limits. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes can hit speeds of up to 20 mph (32 km/h) with electric assist, while Class 3 e-bikes can reach higher speeds of 28 mph (45 km/h). All three are limited to 750W of power, but only Class 2 e-bikes are allowed to use hand throttles (while Class 1 and 3 require the user’s pedaling to activate the motor).

But Hawaii’s proposed legislation goes further in several key areas, including enforcement and device classification.

One of the biggest changes is the creation of a new category for “high-speed electric devices,” which would include anything exceeding 750 watts or 28 mph. Those vehicles would generally be banned from public roads and bike paths, officially giving law enforcement clearer authority to remove what many consider e-moto-style bikes operating outside existing rules.

That enforcement angle is a recurring theme throughout the bill. In addition to registration requirements, it explicitly allows authorities to confiscate illegal or unregistered devices. As one lawmaker put it, if a device can’t be registered, it can’t be used on public roads – plain and simple.

The bill also attempts to clarify how and where e-bikes can be used. Sidewalk riding would be permitted but capped at 10 mph (16 km/h) and with a requirement to yield to pedestrians. Counties would still have the ability to restrict sidewalk access in dense areas, and riders would be expected to use bike lanes when available.

Safety provisions are also expanded, including raising the helmet requirement age from 16 to 18 and banning what the law deems “stunts” like wheelies on public roads. On school campuses, higher-speed electric devices would be prohibited entirely, while high schools are permitted to require registration decals for parked bikes.

Electrek’s Take

This is part of a broader trend we’re seeing across the US. States are generally trying to preserve the three-class system for traditional e-bikes while cracking down on higher-powered electric two-wheelers that don’t fit neatly into that framework, though some versions of states’ laws we’ve seen have attempted to modify or remove the three-class system that has largely become the status quo in the US.

But requiring registration for all e-bikes, like in this proposed Hawaii law, is a notable shift that likely will create a heavier burden on riders. One of the reasons e-bikes have seen such rapid adoption is that they’ve largely avoided the bureaucracy associated with cars, mopeds, and motorcycles.

Hawaii’s approach aims to bring more order and enforceability to a rapidly evolving category. The question is whether that added friction will help improve safety, or risk slowing down the growth of one of the most accessible forms of electric transportation.