VeloRUSH VeloPOINT Motorsports Magazine Fall 2013 | Page 61

to consumers through their websites. Pete Prebus of http://www.electricbikereport. com has a website dedicated to spreading the concept of the electric bike as well as helpful service and maintenance tips, industry news and product reviews. Pete uses videos, podcasts, and the written word to share his findings. And since users can comment right on his website, visitors are not only getting his feedback, but that of other owners of e-bikes as well. Rob Means of www.electric-bikes.com is another enthusiast (and seller) of electric bikes who has dedicated himself to providing detailed information on products in the Light Electric Vehicle (LEV ) industry. His website contains information on every electric bike sold in the US (past or present) and can be extremely helpful when comparing products. RULES & REGULATIONS The laws governing the power and speed of e-bikes in the US (HR 727) have not wavered since being adopted in 2002. Motor power in the USA can be as high as 750 Watts and most brands have found that this is more than is needed. So e-bike motors range from 250 Watts to 750, with the bulk being 500 Watts or less. And the majority of e-bikes have a top speed of 20 mph (32 kmh), since the law prohibits anything faster. Some ebike functionality has definitely seen improvements over the years. For instanc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