Electric Bicycle FAQs
Q. Do I need a license to operate my electric bicycle?
A. No, all the electric bicycles we sell are designed with a maximum speed of 20 mph or less using the motor only (i.e., not pedaling.) As a result, the Registry of Motor Vehicles does not consider our electric bicycles to be motor vehicles. If you use an electric bicycle on public roads in Massachusetts, the same rules apply to the electric bicycle that would apply to a non-motorized bicycle. No driver's license or insurance is required by the RMV, and the vehicle does not have to be registered with the RMV.
Q. How do I recharge the battery?
A. All electric bicycles come with an off-board charger that resembles the charger that comes with a laptop computer. You simply plug one of the charger's cords into a regular household outlet (110V) and the other into the battery. In most cases, you can first remove the battery from the bicycle and bring it to a convenient place for recharging.
Q. Does it recharge while I pedal?
A. Sorry, the battery is designed to provide the rider with extra power, not the other way around. If you want to develop a pedal-operated generator for recharging batteries, you're on your own. It's true that some cars have re-generative braking systems to convert the vehicle's momentum to electricity that is then used to recharge the car's battery. This makes more sense in a heavy, complicated, and relatively expensive vehicle than it does on an electric bicycle. Your e-bike is pretty simple, mechanically, and we like it that way.
Q. Can I ride my electric bicycle on a bike path?
A. This is a good question without a good answer. The answer depends on the specific bike path, because there is no legislation that governs all bike paths. Some bike paths specifically exclude motorized vehicles. On the other hand, if you are only using pedal power, are you a motorized vehicle? Our experience indicates that, if you use good common sense, you can't go too far wrong.
Q. Can my electric bicycle go out in the rain?
A. Of course! Electric bicycles work fine in the rain. Like a regular bicycle, your electric bicycle will be happier if it not left out overnight in the rain, but it will tolerate getting wet. You don't want to submerge the motor mounted in your wheel hub, so be careful with those river-crossings... Also, your battery charger does not share your electric bicycle's robust physique and must be kept out of the weather.
