Higher power regulations
- Thread starter hoppy
- Start date
We've never had one reported Hoppy. However, now is not the time to be bothered with it if the current moves by the European parliament are successful. They have proposed removing all power limiting, leaving that to designers and only having the assist speed limit and a weight limit regulating e-bikes and pedelecs. The proposal is also to allow independent throttle control.
Therefore it's worth waiting to see if this goes through. The details are on this link
There's further details from Wisper Bikes on this link
.
Therefore it's worth waiting to see if this goes through. The details are on this link
There's further details from Wisper Bikes on this link
.
Last edited:
D
Deleted member 4366
Guest
Unless I misunderstood, the Kalkhoff fast pedelecs being imported in very small numbers by 50 cycles already have type approval in the UK and therefore could easily be registered, etc.
Whether any purchaser would choose to do it is another matter of course.
Rog.
Whether any purchaser would choose to do it is another matter of course.
Rog.
D
Deleted member 4366
Guest
Earth to Hoppy. Hello! Did you not see my post? It has been done. In one of the Gadget show challenges during one leg they were riding an electric bike at about 20mph. They mentioned that it was over the normal power for an electric bike and would need registration, and as it passed, you could see a registration plate on the back. Sorry I don't have any more details.
I think it might have been Series 12 Episode 4. It was definitely during a race across London.
I think it might have been Series 12 Episode 4. It was definitely during a race across London.
Last edited by a moderator:
Where does the 4k come from if a bike is already type approved?
Oh, I see what you mean - that's the cost of the bike. Well, they're not cheap even in Germany, and possibly you might well be subsidising the cost of type approval.
In any case, you would probably not want to go there for lots of other reasons. There's a fee for registration, and third party RTA insurance could cost you £100 or more per year. The tax disk would be free but would need to be displayed. When the bike is three years old there's the annual MOT probably at motor cycle rate. Then there's the somewhat large reflective yellow number plate, which would mean you can't use cycle paths, you can be 'done' for exceeding the 30mph speed limit if you tear down a hill, you'd have to be careful at traffic lights, nipping up on the pavement to get around roadworks would be a no-no, parking in London would be a problem (certainly in Westminster) - etc.
In other words, most of the disadvantages of riding a bike, most of the disadvantages of riding a powered two-wheeler - and few of the advantages of either.
Just my opinion, of course!
Rog.
Oh, I see what you mean - that's the cost of the bike. Well, they're not cheap even in Germany, and possibly you might well be subsidising the cost of type approval.
In any case, you would probably not want to go there for lots of other reasons. There's a fee for registration, and third party RTA insurance could cost you £100 or more per year. The tax disk would be free but would need to be displayed. When the bike is three years old there's the annual MOT probably at motor cycle rate. Then there's the somewhat large reflective yellow number plate, which would mean you can't use cycle paths, you can be 'done' for exceeding the 30mph speed limit if you tear down a hill, you'd have to be careful at traffic lights, nipping up on the pavement to get around roadworks would be a no-no, parking in London would be a problem (certainly in Westminster) - etc.
In other words, most of the disadvantages of riding a bike, most of the disadvantages of riding a powered two-wheeler - and few of the advantages of either.
Just my opinion, of course!
Rog.
Last edited:
I have previously posted the all of the steps necessary to getting a more powerful e-bike approved in the UK, and that details the facts and links on the "Low Powered Moped Class". That's for bikes up to 1000 watts and approval for one of those should be easy to obtain, given it is an established EU and UK class. Not high speed though, still with 15 mph assist limit.
Here's the link
Here's the link
The advantages of the Ebike would be lost if you have to go through the same hassle as powered two wheelers ie testing , insurance , parking restrictions , helmet etc . I already have to go through that 3 times with my bikes and once with a car annually . No thanks !
I don't thing getting approval was what were on about - we know that can be tricky. It's been mentioned many times before.
It's what happens afterwards if, having the approval already taken care of, you decide to jump on the slippery slope and register the thing.
Rog.
Haha - sorry. Didn't mean to put you off.
These forums are always a bit of a minefield as it can take quite a while to find your way about and keep track of what's gone on before. In case you hadn't noticed, Flecc is the resident guru and by far the major poster, and he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the ins and outs of e-biking and many other things too.
What's especially odd about the e-bike thing is that it hasn't really crystallized yet. There are basic rules that we all understand regarding (primarily) permitted assisted speed, maximum weight, and average motor power you're allowed. What doesn't yet exist is any way of properly policing things. It's practically impossible to pin down the 'average power' bit for a start - quite apart from the fact that if you're doing 30mph as long as you look as though you're working at it Mr. Plod can't tell whether the motor is assisting you or not.
It's possible to legally buy or sell a totally illegal bike - you don't break any laws until you venture out on the road. There are a few about - allegedly! It's a bit like the law on cannabis - you can have plant pots, growing medium, lights, seed - all perfectly legal. You can even plant the seed, but when you add water and it starts to grow - that's when you cross the line.
The point about legal e-bikes though is that the law doesn't make any distinction between them and an ordinary unpowered bicycle, except for the rule that you need to be 14 years old to ride an e-bike. If you must have power beyond (approximately) 15 mph, then maybe you should be looking at a motorbike.
Rog.
These forums are always a bit of a minefield as it can take quite a while to find your way about and keep track of what's gone on before. In case you hadn't noticed, Flecc is the resident guru and by far the major poster, and he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the ins and outs of e-biking and many other things too.
What's especially odd about the e-bike thing is that it hasn't really crystallized yet. There are basic rules that we all understand regarding (primarily) permitted assisted speed, maximum weight, and average motor power you're allowed. What doesn't yet exist is any way of properly policing things. It's practically impossible to pin down the 'average power' bit for a start - quite apart from the fact that if you're doing 30mph as long as you look as though you're working at it Mr. Plod can't tell whether the motor is assisting you or not.
It's possible to legally buy or sell a totally illegal bike - you don't break any laws until you venture out on the road. There are a few about - allegedly! It's a bit like the law on cannabis - you can have plant pots, growing medium, lights, seed - all perfectly legal. You can even plant the seed, but when you add water and it starts to grow - that's when you cross the line.
The point about legal e-bikes though is that the law doesn't make any distinction between them and an ordinary unpowered bicycle, except for the rule that you need to be 14 years old to ride an e-bike. If you must have power beyond (approximately) 15 mph, then maybe you should be looking at a motorbike.
Rog.
Related Articles
-
MTF Enterprises announces acquisition of EMU Electric Bikes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Wisper 806T folding bike wins Which? ‘Best Buy’- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Sustrans calls for protected cycle lanes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Amazon launch their first UK e-cargo micromobility hub- Started by: Pedelecs
