Ok, so I'm perhaps jumping right in here but here goes..

[BALDYMONSTER]

So what exactly is the law surrounding riding electric conversion bikes on the road?

ASAIK The UK legal limit is a motor no more powerful than 250 W and not capable of more than a pretty mundane 15mph, am I correct?

But there seems to be an abundance of motors twice that power and even more.

Can you legally use plus 250 W motors but don't allow them to exceed said 15mph? Some kits seem to offer this restriction via a switch or upping the assistance on the handlebar control.

I've also read that you can fit a motor exceeding 250 W but you must have a full car licence, be insured and that the bike is taxed, is this the case or just more online experts, sigh?

Presumably anything above the UK legal limit would have to be registered and display a rear number plate at least?

Is this possible or just more online internet expertise?!

Thanks in advance.

 

[derf]

So what exactly is the law surrounding riding electric conversion bikes on the road?

ASAIK The UK legal limit is a motor no more powerful than 250 W and not capable of more than a pretty mundane 15mph, am I correct?

But there seems to be an abundance of motors twice that power and even more.

Can you legally use plus 250 W motors but don't allow them to exceed said 15mph? Some kits seem to offer this restriction via a switch or upping the assistance on the handlebar control.

I've also read that you can fit a motor exceeding 250 W but you must have a full car licence, be insured and that the bike is taxed, is this the case or just more online experts, sigh?

Presumably anything above the UK legal limit would have to be registered and display a rear number plate at least?

Is this possible or just more online internet expertise?!

Thanks in advance.

it's all just fine - there will no doubt be a bunch of super super egos along that will get into a sectarian conflict that will make Syria look tame (it happens here) - but it's a nominal 250w (in reality more 6-700w peak across the board) and unless you scream along at way over 20mph no one frankly gives a damn (least not plod)

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

Any chance of expanding a bit on that buddy?

 

[flecc]

The 250 watt continuous power rating is a nominal one to satisfy the law Chris. In practice most e-bikes develop up to 400 to 500 plus watts of peak power. To comply with the law it's just necessary to buy an e-bike or kit rated at 250 watts which is incapable of assisting with power at over 15.5 mph.

Bikes with higher rating like 1000 watts but advertised as being switchable to 250 watts are not legal as unregistered pedelecs.

To be registered they first have to be type approved as mopeds or motorcycles, but that is impossible for any of these e-bikes as supplied, they fall far short of the requirements for type approval. The work to convert them to suit is so extensive and expensive it's just not worth it.

If you did achieve it, you then have to have to register, have a rear number plate, insurance, a suitable driving licence or take the CBT and pass the driving test. You must also ride wearing an approved nmotorcycle helmet, not too comfortable on a bike.

Some ride overpowered and over speed e-bikes illegally and that is unlikely to be detected if not done too blatantly. The problem arises though if one has an accident and the traffic police investigate the circumstances. They frequently know the pedelec law well since many forces either use e-bikes or have had them on trial for police duties.
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[BALDYMONSTER]

So what's all this I hear and read about derstricting the max speed of the oxydrive 250 watt rear drive kit via the lcd?

 

[Nealh]

So what's all this I hear and read about derstricting the max speed of the oxydrive 250 watt rear drive kit via the lcd?

Its true .
I have 4 e bikes all are capable of going quite quickly. Quite a lot of kit LCD's allow you to make changes via pushing a few buttons and changing the sub menu's.

 

[BALDYMONSTER]

I'm going for an Oxydrive 250 watt ebike conversion.

I have loads of private land to ride on so would like to increase the power via the supplied LCD handlebar unit.

Any links or advice on how to do this?

PM me if neccessary please buddy.

Thanks.

 

[flecc]

So what's all this I hear and read about derstricting the max speed of the oxydrive 250 watt rear drive kit via the lcd?

The manufacturers and suppliers seem to regard this as legal since it's set at 15.5 mph when supplied. However, it's very questionable if it is when it's under the control of the rider.

The legality of this arrangement is immaterial though, once the LCD is changed to an illegal speed, the pedelec is illegal.

No ifs, not buts, no maybes, the law is clear, here is the exemption from being a motor vehicle, copied and pasted:

h) pedal cycles with pedal assistance which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a maximum continuous rated power of less than or equal to 250 W, where the output of the motor is cut off when the cyclist stops pedalling and is otherwise progressively reduced and finally cut off before the vehicle speed reaches 25 km/h;

Whether you comply is up to you of course, none of my business, I'm just informing you of the true position in response to you asking.
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[BALDYMONSTER]

Ok, but can it be one...for info/arguments sake?

 

[Nealh]

You should be able to down load LCD instructions from Oxy drive web site or should come with some. Using the search facility on the forum there is a large thread on the Oxydrive some 60 pages to read through but worth it.

 

[flecc]

Ok, but can it be one...for info/arguments sake?

It cannot be a legal pedelec once the LCD is set to an assist speed over 15.5 mph.

The DfT use the term "off-road" for any switching arrangement that permits higher speeds and this is what they say, again copied and pasted:

"Off Road" Assistance

We are aware of some electric cycles that have a switch offering a temporary increase in top speed that is often advertised as an "off road" facility. When the switch is pressed the vehicle can be propelled by the motor at a speed greater than15.5 mph. Vehicles with this feature fitted do not, in our opinion, comply with the GB EAPC Regulations.

You can see that they confirm what I posted about the alterable LCD.
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[derf]

It cannot be a legal pedelec once the LCD is set to an assist speed over 15.5 mph.

The DfT use the term "off-road" for any switching arrangement that permits higher speeds and this is what they say, again copied and pasted:

"Off Road" Assistance

We are aware of some electric cycles that have a switch offering a temporary increase in top speed that is often advertised as an "off road" facility. When the switch is pressed the vehicle can be propelled by the motor at a speed greater than15.5 mph. Vehicles with this feature fitted do not, in our opinion, comply with the GB EAPC Regulations.

You can see that they confirm what I posted about the alterable LCD.
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to be fair (and very accurate, and apologies for teaching everyone to suck eggs), its really something around 17.8mph (as kalkhoffs assist to) with the permissible margin of error. I've tried a derestricted Oxygen - it assisted (with my 90plus kg) to around 22-24 mph. The thing I find is that once one has used a pedelec for a while one realises one really doesn't need more than something that can hover around 19 mph (as I suspect everyone is doing legally, illegally or otherwise)

 

[anotherkiwi]

I found a copy of EN 15194 online in China I know, naughty boy I should have shelled out monies to the standards bodies I mean we paid for the making of the norm it is only natural that we should pay again to actually see it...

Unfortunately it doesn't have the A+ 2012 annexes.

EDIT: I found the differing clauses (thank you AFNOR!) and they only involve marking of controls and two test procedures so the 2009 version is reasonably current

Concerning speed:

4.2.6
Maximum speed for which the electric motor gives assistance
4.2.6.1
Requirements
The maximum speed for which the electric motor gives assistance may differ by ± 5% of the speed indicated on the label described within Clause 5 when determined according to the test method described in 4.2.6.2, from 25 km/h or lower values as specified by the manufacturer.
During a production conformity check, the maximum speed may differ by ± 10% from the above-mentioned determined value.

So your kit bike must be with 5% of 25 km/h (max 26.25) and your shiny production bike within 10% (max 27.5)

Throttle:

4.2.4.3
Start up assistance mode
4.2.4.3.1
Requirements
EPAC can be equipped with a start up assistance mode up to 6 km/h designed speed or lower values as specified by the manufacturer. Unauthorized use shall be prevented.
This mode shall be activated by the voluntary and maintained action of the user either when riding without pedalling or when the user is pushing the cycle.

I found no trace of the anti tampering clause (user setting max speed from LCD) perhaps that is part of the A+ 2012 annexe which I don't have? Experts?

 

[flecc]

to be fair (and very accurate, and apologies for teaching everyone to suck eggs), its really something around 17.8mph (as kalkhoffs assist to) with the permissible margin of error.

Not quite accurate, the DfT advice is the same as that quoted by another kiwi above from EN15194, 15.5 mph with 10% tolerance. That means the maximum permissible assist speed is 17.05 mph, effectively just 17 mph.

And of course this is a tolerance, meaning one can buy a legally supplied pedelec and find it only assists to just under 14 mph!
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[BALDYMONSTER]

You should be able to down load LCD instructions from Oxy drive web site or should come with some. Using the search facility on the forum there is a large thread on the Oxydrive some 60 pages to read through but worth it.

Thanks for the info and help guys.

Now I know this may me being lazy but could someone post a link to the thread discusing the how to's and what not' of adjusting the Oxydrive LCD display unit for more power off road please?

Pretty please...with a cherry on top?

 

[flecc]

Thanks for the info and help guys.

Now I know this may me being lazy but could someone post a link to the thread discusing the how to's and what not' of adjusting the Oxydrive LCD display unit for more power off road please?

Pretty please...with a cherry on top?

No cherry for me, here's the link below to the Oxygen e-bike LCD manual. The speed setting is on page 10:

Oxygen LCD Manual
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[Ray Johnson]

It may just be me, of course. Does anyone else think that the person that wrote this does not have English as their first language?

http://tinyurl.com/gn8h4mj

What does it actually mean?

Various pages, but page 10? :-

3. Speed-limit Setting Change Max Speed could set the limit riding speed. When speed over this value, controller will cut off the power which supply to motor, to protect the safety of rider. Max Speed default value is 25km/h. ★ Hold UP /DOWN for 3 seconds and enter into the speed-limit setting interface:

 

[flecc]

3. Speed-limit Setting Change Max Speed could set the limit riding speed. When speed over this value, controller will cut off the power which supply to motor, to protect the safety of rider.

Chinese writer attempting to explain that the bike is legal as supplied. Translation: Power is cut when the legal limit is reached.

Max Speed default value is 25km/h. ★ Hold UP /DOWN for 3 seconds and enter into the speed-limit setting interface:

Explanation of how to enter the facility to override the 25kph limitation.
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[Alan Quay]

I thought that was a reasonable attempt. Your job as a native speaker is to be better at interpretation ;-)

We bought a robot vacuum cleaner a few years back. The manual was very poorly translated. When describing the maintenance procedure for removing collected obstructions from the filter it consistently referred to 'Hairy lump rubbish'.

All fluff, filter or drain blocking matter in our household has henceforth been termed hairy lump rubbish. I've also found it collected around the small cogs on my rear derailleur and in my belly button.