When it comes to laws, many hours are spent in court rooms interpreting what a given law actually means. this is because there is often a fair amount of ambiguity in the wording of a law.
HR 727 in part states ...electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.)... is to be considered a bicycle only and not a motor vehicle.
In most all cases when we make a reference to the horse power of a motor vehicle we are referring to the output power of the motor, not the input power.
The problem I see with HR 727 is that it does not state that the 750 watts is the input power. Therefore it would seem most logical to assume output power. In this case a hub motor that is stamped as 750 watts would not likely have 750 watts output. It would not produce 1 h.p. as listed in parenthesis in HR 727.
However, I have a very strong feeling that any judge in the U.S. is going to see it differently.
HR 727 in part states ...electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.)... is to be considered a bicycle only and not a motor vehicle.
In most all cases when we make a reference to the horse power of a motor vehicle we are referring to the output power of the motor, not the input power.
The problem I see with HR 727 is that it does not state that the 750 watts is the input power. Therefore it would seem most logical to assume output power. In this case a hub motor that is stamped as 750 watts would not likely have 750 watts output. It would not produce 1 h.p. as listed in parenthesis in HR 727.
However, I have a very strong feeling that any judge in the U.S. is going to see it differently.