Final limit at 250 watts EU ruling

Our hopes of the European Parliament recommendation for pedelec power limitation to be removed becoming law have now been dashed, the 250 watt limit is final:

Read the details here

Edited November 21, 201213 yr by jazper53

but is there still not hope for German HS class being adopted here? as its not mentioned in article so still stands I would think.

I am very overweight and far from fit and my bikes get me where I want to and are light enough to carry with one hand...really dont need anything else.

Jasper I think you will be surprised by the performance of some 250 watt bikes as it is..but yes that is what will happen. BUT! the elephant in the room, 25 kph:( Sooo.. bike needs be be light and nice enough to ride above the cut of. Ezee and direct drive motors very powerful already

Edited November 21, 201213 yr by eddieo

Hi Eddie, we are waiting for more information on this, we are keen to bring in the Grace fast pedlecs as soon as possible as they are so popular in Germany and Switzerland already. I think this may be achievable but the bikes would need to be treated in every way as if they were mopeds. We will have further details soon.

There do seems to be a lot of companies and individuals currently ignoring the law so fast e bikes are available if you don't mind taking the risk of prosecution.

All the best

David

Good,at least we all know the future. Maybe with such a clear statement all these 350 watt bikes,which mainly seem to be in West London will be taken off the road-chinese style throw them in the crusher!

We surely all ride ebikes because we enjoy the freedom to ride in the same way as non assisted bikes,I just don't see any reason to buy a bicycle and then try to make it into a moped,with the restriction that you can then only then ride the bike on the public highway.

Such a clear statement will enable investment and R&D into making 250 watt machines as desirable to own and ride within safe limits.

Dave

Kudoscycles

I have no doubt in the future they will improve the performance of 250 watt motors, much like they did in formula 1 when they first started putting restrictions on their engines.

Jazper,you are absolutely right-even in the 2 years I have been involved in this ebike industry the performance of legal ebikes has improved considerably,there is so much development in the pipeline.

But the 350 watt bikes were stifling that development because it was so much easier to just up the controller amps and/or motor power without any R&D costs.

Dave

Kudoscycles

Hi Eddie, we are waiting for more information on this, we are keen to bring in the Grace fast pedlecs as soon as possible as they are so popular in Germany and Switzerland already. I think this may be achievable but the bikes would need to be treated in every way as if they were mopeds. We will have further details soon.

 

There do seems to be a lot of companies and individuals currently ignoring the law so fast e bikes are available if you don't mind taking the risk of prosecution.

 

All the best

 

David

Not really of interest for myself, as I really think these HS bikes are commuter machines for the savvy and wealthy! So being limited to road fine for most I would think...At least the german HS bikes are type approved already so safe on the road, braking etc......

Dave, I don't think there was ever any doubt, fast pedelecs will never fit into the same category as bikes specified in EN15194 and will always be considered nearer to mopeds than cycles. I absolutely agree with keeping them separate and insisting on compulsory insurance, licensing, registration, MOT testing, helmet wearing etc etc.

Having ridden one of these bikes in Germany, although they are exhilarating and a lot of fun, they are fast and I understand the need for them to be treated in the same manner as any other motorised vehicle traveling up to 28mph.

All the best

David

Edited November 21, 201213 yr by Wisper Bikes

No restriction of power is good. Now that they've fixed it at 250w, the next thing to sort out will be what 250w means. If someone decides that it means 250w max, we'll all be riding round on those 24v slugs that we had 10 years ago, which got electric bikes ridiculed because they were a complete waste of time.

A motor "rated at 250w" has absolutely no meaning, which is why manufacturers can exploit it and produce the more enjoyable bikes like the Bosch motored ones, and others that can produce a lot more power than 250w. It's only a matter of time before someone tries to pin it down. Much better not to have a power limit, but we've got one for now, so please don't see this as any kind of success.

Hi d8veh

As far as I know there will not be any changes to the EN15194 document in the near future so motors rated as they currently are will remain. I don't think there would be any advantage to imposing tighter limits to motor power than are already in force across Europe. The rated 250W is clever, enabling us all to push the boundaries but stay legal without going mad!

All the best

David

The rated 250W is clever, enabling us all to push the boundaries but stay legal without going mad!

Amen to that

Hi d8veh

 

As far as I know there will not be any changes to the EN15194 document in the near future so motors rated as they currently are will remain. I don't think there would be any advantage to imposing tighter limits to motor power than are already in force across Europe. The rated 250W is clever, enabling us all to push the boundaries but stay legal without going mad!

 

All the best

 

David

Eventually someone will push the boundary too far, then questions will be asked, and then they'll realise that the limit is meaningless, so then they'll try to put meaning to it withouthaving to change the regulations.

Eventually someone will push the boundary too far, then questions will be asked, and then they'll realise that the limit is meaningless, so then they'll try to put meaning to it withouthaving to change the regulations.

That's always been my eventual worry, but perhaps we are safeguarded at present by the fact that the EU areas where cycling and e-biking are most popular, the Low Countries, Denmark and Germany don't seem to be interested in pushing boundaries and mainly use off-the-peg e-bikes. Boundary pushers in Germany are usually satisfied by their S and higher power classes.

It seems to be Britain, Austria and to a small extent Italy where the limits are pushed most commonly, fortunately in this context countries not prominent in e-biking generally.

Surely rated power is related to continuous operation. Now my bike can operate continuously at 250w but would not be able to operate continuously at 570w, which it can do in a climb for a short period of time.

Therefore everything is perfectly legal?

Surely rated power is related to continuous operation. Now my bike can operate continuously at 250w but would not be able to operate continuously at 570w, which it can do in a climb for a short period of time.

Therefore everything is perfectly legal?

In practice not. Many e-bikes are capable of continuously operating at over 250 watts output, some at double or more that. They need to be, in the days when the power limit was observed much more strictly, e-bikes were frankly useless. This was why they made no market progress for two decades, a prospect only had to try one to realise they didn't need it.

What e-bike is it that you have by the way?

Hi DHJ

I will need to check the detail, however I believe that as long as the motor is rated 250W and would cut out if run at much more than that for more than a few minutes it is within acceptable boundaries.

All the best

David

Surely rated power is related to continuous operation. Now my bike can operate continuously at 250w but would not be able to operate continuously at 570w, which it can do in a climb for a short period of time.

Therefore everything is perfectly legal?

How long can it climb like that on a cold winter's day?

The problem is always the batteries.

Use more wattage, get less mileage.

If the proposed weight limit of 25 kg is enforced, then the possibilty of wiring in 2 or 3 batteries is unlikely.

(Unless the 25 kg does not include the battery)

In practice not. Many e-bikes are capable of continuously operating at over 250 watts output, some at double or more that. They need to be, in the days when the power limit was observed much more strictly, e-bikes were frankly useless. This was why they made no market progress for two decades, a prospect only had to try one to realise they didn't need it.

 

What e-bike is it that you have by the way?

It's an Oxygen Emate City which shows the watts I am using. I very rarely use the top setting which gives me the 570w reading except for the odd 30 second burst on a very steep hill. It would also eat up the battery so it is used very conservatively.

The HS class and even the German higher power classes are not affected, but of course they have restrictions like compulsory registration and insurance and number plates. They are also limited on where they can be ridden and I think helmets are compulsory with them. So basically almost as much hassle as a motor cycle to own.

Hmmm... yes and no. Once the paperwork is done you needn't worry about costly servicing, maintenance and fuel/oils. Even though they're bigger and heavier, they're still bicycles and can be run on a shoestring compared to a motorcycle.

Technically, mine is a class whatever, but I use bike components and since they're capable of coping with the speeds and loads I put it to, I have no need to spend more on it than I'd normally spend on it as a bicycle. I service mine in the kitchen with no mess, either.

Our hopes of the European Parliament recommendation for pedelec power limitation to be removed becoming law have now been dashed, the 250 watt limit is final:

 

Read the details here

How is this law going to be enforced I wonder.. I can see all kinds of practical problems for the police.. I think we have said, unless you're acting like an idiot/drawing attention to yourself, or unlucky enough to be the cause of an accident.. it's unlikely the police will have the time/means to test motors?

The question is whether the government will make it law for manufacturers to have some rating stamped on motors, or some EU approval number/sign, or something in future..

This also raises a question re BMS Batteries / GreenBikeKit.. they're advertising motors at "250-350" and basically sending out 350W motors as I discovered today! Does this mean they've stopped making 250W, or they can't be precise enough about the rating so put a range?

Edited November 21, 201213 yr by morphix

The problem is always the batteries.

Use more wattage, get less mileage.

If the proposed weight limit of 25 kg is enforced, then the possibilty of wiring in 2 or 3 batteries is unlikely.

(Unless the 25 kg does not include the battery)

I'd fit a trailer with two extra batteries

I doubt the legislation mentions trailers...

Maybe with such a clear statement all these 350 watt bikes,which mainly seem to be in West London will be taken off the road-chinese style throw them in the crusher!

You'll have to prise mine out of my cold dead fingers - as that's the only way I'll be giving it up.