E-bikes without chains.

[David Whiteman]

I just received an email from ICE Trikes, a company in the United Kingdom that makes recumbent tricycles, some with electric assist.

They just announced a new series of trikes equipped with the PERS Chainless Pedaling System. https://www.icetrikes.co/products/pers-chainless-e-assist-system 

The pedals power the hub via electricity, not a chain. Pedaling the bike causes the hub to move. Reverse pedaling causes the bike to brake by regeneration, and charging the battery. I am wondering whether this would qualify as an e-bike under California rules. There is nothing in the literature that the energy generated by the pedals can go directly to power the hub, or whether the hub is powered by the battery, and pedaling is just another way of controlling the throttle. 

Of note the literature says that the hub motor is a 250 W motor, far less than the maximum watts allowed in California of 750 Watts. Also the literature mentions that the motor will only support speeds of up to 20 mph or 25 km/hr depending on local regulations. Which would qualify it as either a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike if it would otherwise qualify. 

[Damian Kevitt]

IMO, yes, it would still qualify as an ebike under CA code. 

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[Damian Kevitt]

I'm not too sure how the marketing will go in CA for a Trike called ICE Trikes.