Holland get the Speed Pedelec bug.

[flecc]

BikeEurope brings news that Speed Pedelec sales have doubled in Holland and many are able to register and plate them there. The more they spread into legal use beyond Germany within the EU may soften the attitude of other EU governments towards their adoption:

Article Link

 

[peerjay56]

The Dutch have had a 25kph moped category for many years though, which speed pedelecs appear to fall into. The existence of that category for previously i/c powered bicycles doesn't seem to have influenced other countries previously

 

[flecc]

We've always had that too Phil, here we call it the Low Powered Moped category, but it's exactly the same EU class. The motor limit is 1000 watts, assist limit 25kph but registration is necessary. That is why few are interested in it

The speed pedelecs don't fall into that in Holland since they are 45 kph e-bikes. They are registered into a higher level moped class.

 

[peerjay56]

We've always had that too Phil, here we call it the Low Powered Moped category, but it's exactly the same EU class.

OK. now I'm confused. Why don't s-pedelecs fall into that category here then?

 

[flecc]

OK. now I'm confused. Why don't s-pedelecs fall into that category here then?

Because the EU vehicle class rules have to be adopted by individual governments into national legislation. Only Germany did this originally, but now it appears Holland has followed, not surprising since they are the proportionally the world's largest e-bike market.

The UK like most EU countries is opposed to the higher speed class, the DfT not even considering it. We can use the full 30 mph moped class which is little different where the vehicle rules are concerned, but the snags are that entails a P1 driving licence and CBT if necessary, plus m/c crash helmet.