New bill could change how e-bikes are labeled and sold

A new bill in Delaware could change how electric bikes and other small electric vehicles are marketed and sold, aiming to crack down on what lawmakers see as growing confusion between legal e-bikes and higher-powered electric mopeds or motorcycles.

House Bill 439, dubbed the “Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act,” would prohibit dealers from advertising certain electric mopeds or motorcycles as “electric bicycles” unless they actually meet Delaware’s legal definition of an e-bike.

The proposal comes as states across the US continue struggling with a rapidly evolving micromobility market where everything from pedal-assist commuter bikes to Sur Ron-style electric dirt bikes are often casually lumped together under the same “e-bike” label.

The bill would require sellers to provide written disclosures explaining a vehicle’s classification, maximum power, and whether registration, insurance, or a driver’s license is required to operate it legally.