Confused about the new law on throttles - clarification please

[Deerhound]

I was under the impression that the new law states that a throttle that takes the bike over 4mph (for starting from standing) cannot be used on a bike whilst it is not being pedalled and that bikes built before 1st January 2016 were allowed to be sold with a full 15mph throttle and then bikes built after that have to comply with the new regulations.

However, I've just read this article http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/twist-gos-require-type-approval-helmets-insurance-tax/ and it seems to be suggesting that electric bikes can have a 15.5mph throttle as long as they have type approval and even then they don't need to be classed as a moped.

Could someone please clarify: are bikes with throttles that take the bike up to 15.5mph without being pedalled permitted to be built and sold after 1st January 2016? The information I've read is very confusing and seems to be contradictory.

Thanks.

 

[trex]

the new law took effect on 1/1/2016 but suppliers have 2 years (up to 1/1/2018) to sell off their stock. It follows that bikes with full throttle are still available for 1 year and 9 months. Bikes bought before 1/1/2018 can keep the throttle (if fitted) forever. You cannot retrofit a throttle to a bike if the supplier did not fit it though.

 

[Deerhound]

But the statement in the article makes it sounds like you can have a throttle fitted as long as it's type approved and that even if it is type approved in this way, as long as it doesn't cause the bike to exceed 15.5mph it is not a moped.

This government page (last updated 8th March 2016) also says nothing about the pedals having to be moving for the bike to be assisted: https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

 

[Deerhound]

Also see this: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/482015/electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles.pdf which says:

Power assistance - "Twist and Go"
Because of the particular benefits for elderly and disabled users, pedal cycles providing electrical assistance without use of the pedals - usually called "Twist and Goes" - are included in the above GB classification provided they are capable of pedal operation and comply with the above restrictions on maximum motor power and assistance cut-off speed.

However, under European law new "Twist and Go" vehicles will, from January 2016, have to meet a range of technical requirements before they can be used on roads.This will normally be established by "type approval" at the manufacturing stage but importers and individuals will be able to seek an individual approval for vehicles that have not been type approved.

Surely this means throttles are still allowed with type approval but they will still not have to be classed as mopeds?

By the way, I'm discussing new bikes built after 1st January 2016. I know old stock is allowed.

 

[flecc]

Surely this means throttles are still allowed with type approval but they will still not have to be classed as mopeds?

That's correct, they will remain EAPCs, but only for the UK. However, there is no method by which any can be type approved at present, though such a method is intended to be introduced in January 2018. Technically any post January 2016 new e-bike cannot have a full range throttle until January 2018, but I doubt anyone will be looking.

Another snag is that Type Approval is only for new manufactured vehicles, including pedelecs. Single vehicles and kit bikes having throttles incorporated or added have to go through SVA, (Single vehicle approval), and there is no indication at present that will include the new class for throttle pedelecs. We can only keep fingers crossed that it will.
.

 

[Deerhound]

A grey area gap of two years? How ridiculous. It's like they don't care. Actually, that wouldn't be surprising.

 

[trex]

it's not as ridiculous as it sounds. The DfT agree that the full throttle is useful for the elderly and the partially abled persons, so they want the suppliers to be able to offer it but it will take time to organize testing facilities for a very small number of bikes and an even smaller number of suppliers. We are talking of maybe fewer than 10 tests a year. For example, out of the woosh range of 14 bikes, possibly only the Gale will be submitted for type approval.

 

[Deerhound]

Does this mean you have to be registered as disabled to use one or something? This is so confusing

 

[trex]

No, you don't. But to justify the cost of going through type approval, the bike in question needs to sell in large volume. In view of the small market in the UK (between 25,000 and 35,000 a year) and only about 35% of them have a full throttle at present, there are no more than 20 models with throttle that sell more than 200 units a year to justify the cost of type approval. Assuming that the lifespan of the model is 5 years, you can see why I said possibly the testing facilities may be used by 10 bikes a year.

 

[Deerhound]

Pity.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Deerhound...the Kudos Secret bikes were manufactured prior to January 2016 so have 'grandfather rights' allowing a 15 mph throttle to be legally fitted and used.
As Trex has indicated we will be seeking type approval on this bike in January 2018,but this has no current effect on your purchase.
I strongly suggest that you don't explore too much the timeline that caused us to reach this current situation,Tolstoy's war and peace would look like a short novel in comparison,it has been a nightmare of changes and I am not sure it has been settled now,but you are ok.
KudosDave

 

[Deerhound]

I know the bike I want is okay. I'm concerned for others in the future. It only seems sensible to me to add a throttle, especially for the less able.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Deerhound....you will be surprised how little you use the throttle,it can be useful for a quick takeoff or navigating a narrow barrier but I hardly ever use it in normal riding. But the PAS power change display I use constantly dependent upon terrain.
KudosDave

 

[cibaker1]

Deerhound....you will be surprised how little you use the throttle,it can be useful for a quick takeoff or navigating a narrow barrier but I hardly ever use it in normal riding. But the PAS power change display I use constantly dependent upon terrain.
KudosDave

Sorry Kudos but I have to disagree, I find that the throttle is SOOO useful and I use it a lot. E-bikes tend to be very heavy and as a result the throttle is invaluable when starting out on an incline or negotiating barriers etc.
E-bikes with hub motors also tend to have less gears which means that starts on any gradient are nigh on impossible, the throttle however, compensates for this.

 

[flecc]

Sorry Kudos but I have to disagree, I find that the throttle is SOOO useful and I use it a lot. E-bikes tend to be very heavy and as a result the throttle is invaluable when starting out on an incline or negotiating barriers etc.

You still have the facility to do this on many e-bikes. A throttle working up to 4 mph is legal and can be used to aid taking off. Likwise you could wriggle past a barrier at that speed.

This was originally intended as a walk along side throttle for use on hills to steep to ride up, when the bike would power itself as one walked alongside. The latest law permits them to be used for taking off from a standstill.
.

 

[shemozzle999]

I was under the impression that the new law states that a throttle that takes the bike over 4mph (for starting from standing) cannot be used on a bike whilst it is not being pedalled and that bikes built before 1st January 2016 were allowed to be sold with a full 15mph throttle and then bikes built after that have to comply with the new regulations.

However, I've just read this article http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/twist-gos-require-type-approval-helmets-insurance-tax/ and it seems to be suggesting that electric bikes can have a 15.5mph throttle as long as they have type approval and even then they don't need to be classed as a moped.

Could someone please clarify: are bikes with throttles that take the bike up to 15.5mph without being pedalled permitted to be built and sold after 1st January 2016? The information I've read is very confusing and seems to be contradictory.

Thanks.

From 1/1/2016 168/2013 applies and to stay within the EU law:

There are 3 options for pedelecs to stay outside the new regulations

1. The pedelec is not fitted with a working independent throttle - exemption 2h.
2. The pedelec can have an independent throttle to 6kph max but the pedelec cannot exceed this speed i.e. 0 to 6kph only - like a mobility scooter -exemption 2a.
3. The pedelec can have a full dependent throttle fitted to 25kph max but the operation of the throttle must cease immediately if the pedals stop turning.

see the draft guidance flowchart:

http://pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/l1e-a-testing-requirements.22843/page-3#post-296224

I know of no EU document which will allow any pedelecs with full independent throttles to be sold after 1/1/2016.

It seems to me that the regulation offers no provision for disadvantaged riders or their fundamental treaty rights by the exclusion of the throttle or offers any specific reasons for its exclusion i.e. on safety grounds, which appears to be one of the regulations primary achievements but is in my mind purely based on the influence of interested commercial bodies with total disregard to the users of these vehicles.

It can only be addressed by a change in the regulation exemptions but the MCWG minutes show that they will not look into any changes until mid 2018.

 

[trex]

Let's say we now can bring our bikes with throttle to a test centre for type approvals.
What specific tests can they actually do to the throttle and bikes besides those in EN15194 that the bikes have already passed?
There are no prescribed dimensions, location, weight, material, working voltage or current or colour to the throttle.

 

[shemozzle999]

Let's say we now can bring our bikes with throttle to a test centre for type approvals.
What specific tests can they actually do to the throttle and bikes besides those in EN15194 that the bikes have already passed?
There are no prescribed dimensions, location, weight, material, working voltage or current or colour to the throttle.

It's all a bit of a mess both the UK and EU they have got themselves into a right pickle trying to resolve the outstanding issues by juggling about an already flawed set of rules, rather than addressing the core errors at source to simplify the legislation they have chosen to over complicate it by trying to cover up the flaws creating even more confusion.

Somebody needs to take the bull by the horns and put aside favouring one side of the argument or the other and find a simple and fast approach to rectifying the situation otherwise the various positive benefits of this eco friendly technology could quickly stall.

As I have stated before the problem effects all the member states, potentially 90 million citizens could benefit from a relaxation of the rules, it is not mutually exclusive to the UK.

 

[KirstinS]

Sorry Kudos but I have to disagree, I find that the throttle is SOOO useful and I use it a lot. E-bikes tend to be very heavy and as a result the throttle is invaluable when starting out on an incline or negotiating barriers etc.
E-bikes with hub motors also tend to have less gears which means that starts on any gradient are nigh on impossible, the throttle however, compensates for this.

I also agree. I have a crank bike and a hub bike and I love the throttle.

Not to use it exclusively without pedally as I very rarely do that but I would equate a throttle versus pas to a nuvinci. Vs a 3 speed hub. It enables instant and constantly variable assist in a moment. It always no assist or full assist in a heartbeat


Pas is always a second delay on and a second delay off. Off road this has caught me out a few times. Also to go from pas 1 to 9 takes a while and a glance down. Not so natural

I think there is a way round these issues, not have a throttle and remain compliant

Can t we have a throttle which does not operate independently and , crucially, isn't actually a throttle but is a smooth and constantly variable pas assist ?

Ie. Hit the throttle hard and you instantly get max Pas. Let it go and drop to zero assist

That would give me what I like about throttles (well 95% any way) and remain legally compliant as really the "throttle" is now just a pas switch of infinite variability between 0 and 100% (like a nuvinci hub is to normal gears )

 

[flecc]

That would give me what I like about throttles (well 95% any way) and remain legally compliant as really the "throttle" is now just a pas switch of infinite variability between 0 and 100% (like a nuvinci hub is to normal gears )

The Ezee bikes I've had and have are like this when switched into pedelec mode. Power is only available when rotating the pedals, and the amount is controlled by the throttle, from zero to 100%.

I don't know if the throttles on the current models operate like this.
.