Another Irish Story

[Peter Thornton]

Interesting article in today's Times about motorised bicycles.
The picture appears to show a bike with a small motor but I can't see any drive system - is it a petrol/electric system?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/motorised-cyclists-will-be-ordered-to-get-off-their-bikes-8mktk9x62

Not sure how much of this you will be able to read?

 

[flecc]

It's just petrol Peter, there's a second chain drive to the other side of the rear wheel.

Back in the 1940s and 1950s bike assist motors were all petrol, between 25cc and 50cc in various forms. Some driving a tyre surface via friction roller, some within the rear wheel, and these chain drive ones are a continuation from that era.

Although invented around the start of the 20th century and the first commercial one in 1922, electric assist bike motors didn't really start to appear until the 1980s. Even then they failed to take off, limited by only having lead-acid batteries. They had to wait for large NiCad and NiMh batteries in the late 1990s to start being more of a success, and lithium batteries in this millennium to really take off.
.

 

[brightonebikes]

Petrol motor.
A young chap across the road from me has one. It's a rather loud and smelly contraption! [emoji107]

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

 

[Peter Thornton]

Ah, yes, I can see that now. But it does raise the question of how legal would be a small motor to charge the battery of an electric bike? A bit like the BMW range extender on their electric car. Probably best not to push the concept that far .......
Interesting that the article does quote a government source specifically exempting pedelecs from the requirement for tax and insurance.

 

[Danidl]

Ah, yes, I can see that now. But it does raise the question of how legal would be a small motor to charge the battery of an electric bike? A bit like the BMW range extender on their electric car. Probably best not to push the concept that far .......
Interesting that the article does quote a government source specifically exempting pedelecs from the requirement for tax and insurance.

.. we explored the idea of using auxiliary power eg a Lidl gender a short while ago.. see fleccs contributions
Why would you be surprised that the Garda would know about legal ebikes? We have achieved certain levels of literacy in the ROI, and have transferred the EU directive into Irish law. The pity is that our friends in Stormont have not done so.

 

[tommie]

The pity is that our friends in Stormont have not done so.

Awe now Dan, never known to miss an opportunity for a dig at us up north!

In this particular case i do agree, well directed and very valid.

 

[flecc]

Ah, yes, I can see that now. But it does raise the question of how legal would be a small motor to charge the battery of an electric bike? A bit like the BMW range extender on their electric car. Probably best not to push the concept that far .......
Interesting that the article does quote a government source specifically exempting pedelecs from the requirement for tax and insurance.

A pedelec in type approval law is specifically electric motor assisted.

Charging the battery in motion is illegal, since there is no way it can be ensured that the charge current goes only into the battery. It will in practice go to the motor at times of higher demand. A disconnected second battery could be charged by petrol generator while in motion without breaching pedelec law, but there are obscure laws about manufacturing on the highway in some countries which might be breached.
.

 

[Danidl]

Awe now Dan, never known to miss an opportunity for a dig at us up north!

In this particular case i do agree, well directed and very valid.

We don't necessarily disagree as a matter of course.. I am really sorry for the unfortunate situation, you and others are in through no fault of your own.