No standardized e-bike classification across US states

The US has no federal e-bike classification standard. Some states use the 3-class system (Class 1: pedal-assist to 20mph, Class 2: throttle to 20mph, Class 3: pedal-assist to 28mph), but 14 states have no e-bike law at all, and states that do have laws define classes differently. So what? A Class 3 e-bike legal on bike paths in California is illegal on the same type of path in New York. So what? Manufacturers can't build one product for the US market — they need state-by-state compliance matrices. So what? Retailers can't clearly tell buyers where their bike is legal to ride, creating massive liability exposure. So what? Consumers buy e-bikes online, ride them where they think they're allowed, and get ticketed or have the bike confiscated. So what? The legal ambiguity suppresses adoption among the mainstream buyers who would actually replace car trips — the exact population you need for micromobility to have climate impact. This persists because e-bikes fall between NHTSA (motor vehicles) and CPSC (consumer products) jurisdiction, and neither agency has claimed full authority. State legislatures copy-paste model legislation from PeopleForBikes but modify it inconsistently.