---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 2085"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "2085"
heading: "Low-speed electric bicycles"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/2085"
units:
  - "Chapter 47 — Consumer Product Safety"
---

# §2085. Low-speed electric bicycles

- (a) **Construction—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, low-speed electric bicycles are [consumer products](/usc/15/2052.md?p=a-5) within the meaning of [section 2052(a)(1)](/usc/15/2052.md?p=a-1)[^1] of this title and shall be subject to the [Commission](/usc/15/2052.md?p=a-4) regulations published at section 1500.18(a)(12) and part 1512 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations.
- (b) **Definition—** For the purpose of this section, the term “low-speed electric bicycle” means a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.
- (c) **Promulgation of requirements—** To further protect the safety of consumers who ride low-speed electric bicycles, the [Commission](/usc/15/2052.md?p=a-4) may promulgate new or amended requirements applicable to such vehicles as necessary and appropriate.
- (d) **Preemption—** This section shall supersede any [State](/usc/15/2052.md?p=a-15) law or requirement with respect to low-speed electric bicycles to the extent that such [State](/usc/15/2052.md?p=a-15) law or requirement is more stringent than the Federal law or requirements referred to in [subsection (a)](#a).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–573, § 38, as added Pub. L. 107–319, § 1, Dec. 4, 2002, 116 Stat. 2776.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 2052(a)(1) of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was redesignated section 2052(a)(5) of this title by Pub. L. 110–314, title II, § 235(b)(4), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3074.