New York State Attorney General Letitia James on Friday issued a call for the public to report retailers selling illegal electric bicycles following the death of a 17-year-old Brooklyn resident in a recent traffic accident.
Gabriel Nacato died Tuesday after colliding with a Chevrolet Tahoe while riding a Deepower e-motorbike in Lower Manhattan, near City Hall. According to New York Police Department officials, the e-bike was equipped with a 960-watt motor and capable of speeds up to 30 miles per hour, exceeding the legal limits for electric bicycles in New York City.
State regulations permit electric bicycles to have motors with a maximum output of 750 watts and restrict their top speed to 25 mph. E-bikes exceeding these thresholds fall outside the legal definition of an electric bicycle and are classified as mopeds or motorized scooters, subject to registration and licensing requirements through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Within New York City, all e-bikes are further limited to a 15 mph speed limit.
Attorney General James emphasized that the laws governing e-bikes and e-scooters are designed to protect public safety and cautioned that noncompliance endangers all street users. “I urge businesses and consumers throughout our state to follow the law and keep unlicensed and unregistered motor vehicles off our streets,” she stated. She also encouraged residents to report companies selling illegal devices to her office.
An investigation by her office found that some retailers are marketing vehicles with power and speed capabilities that violate state standards. In response to the Nacato incident, Deepower reportedly altered the product information on its website to portray the high-powered bike as a more moderate Class 2 e-bike. Documentation accessible on the company’s site specifies the weight of the bike at 75 pounds and notes instructions for disabling a speed limiter, enabling it to reach speeds of up to 30 mph.
The fatal incident involving Nacato follows a similar case in May, when a scooter rider lost control on the Queensborough Bridge and collided with a cyclist. Both victims, Francis Delvalle, 39, and Dmytro Stechenko, 35, subsequently died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens.
The Attorney General's office highlighted a growing trend of injuries and fatalities linked to electric vehicles that exceed the legal limits imposed on e-bikes and e-scooters. They noted that misrepresentation by retailers selling these high-powered devices as lower-class vehicles contributes to public risk.
Authorities continue to urge adherence to state regulations designed to ensure the safe integration of electric vehicles into city traffic and to protect pedestrians and riders alike.