State Attorney General Issues Warning Over High-Speed Electric Vehicles

New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a formal consumer alert regarding the sale and operation of motorized two-wheelers that are frequently marketed as e-bikes but fail to meet state safety standards. The advisory serves as a reminder that devices exceeding specific speed and power thresholds are legally classified as mopeds or motorcycles, necessitating proper licensing, registration, and insurance.

The alert follows a series of recent incidents, including a fatal collision on July 29 in Lower Manhattan. In that incident, 17-year-old Gabriel Nacato was killed after his vehicle, identified by local officials as a Deepower-brand electric device, struck an SUV on Centre Street. According to product specifications, the device is capable of reaching speeds of 30 mph and utilizes a 1500-watt motor, placing it well outside the legal parameters for standard e-bikes in New York City.

Under current state law, legal e-bikes are restricted to motors with a maximum of 750 watts. Furthermore, speed limits are strictly enforced: Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are limited to 20 mph, while Class 3 models are capped at 25 mph within the five boroughs. E-scooters are subject to a 20 mph limit, though they are prohibited from exceeding 15 mph in many contexts. Devices that surpass these metrics are not considered e-bikes or e-scooters under the law.

Attorney General James stated that the enforcement of these limits is intended to protect public safety, noting that the proliferation of unregistered, high-speed vehicles poses a danger to all road users. The Attorney General’s office has encouraged the public to report retailers who may be misrepresenting the legal status of these high-speed devices through the state’s online consumer complaint portal.

Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, have expressed support for the alert. Executive Director Ben Furnas described the move as a necessary step toward addressing what he characterized as deceptive marketing practices by manufacturers, which have led to the sale of dangerous, high-speed equipment to consumers under the guise of street-legal e-bikes.