By the end of 1999, Japanese citizens will have bought more than 300,000 electric bicycles from Yamaha, Suzuki, Panasonic, Sony and Honda. These are powerful brand names, and they build quality products. None are marketed in the U.S. yet, but interest is growing.
Japanese laws require that bikes sold there operate with a proportional power system.
Electric power assist is available only in proportion to the muscle power the rider exerts. Above 15 mph there is no power assist available. In the U.S. the pedaling requirement and speed limitation might also limit some consumers' interest in the Japanese bikes. However, the same features may also be the keysto keeping electric bicycles legal in all standard bicycle circumstances. Electric bicycles are not intended to be mopeds, and the Japanese bikes illustrate that difference very well.