Rickshaw Anyone

[Cyclezee]

Rickshaw Anyone?

I spotted this on eBay Superb electric rickshaw for sale on eBay, also, Bikes, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 28-Feb-08 12:19:19 GMT)

John

 

[Footie]

So where does this one fall, as regards to the law and electric powered vehicles? Anyone know?
It's got to be well over 40kg (motorbike classification), but it's not two wheels - it's a trike.
Are there different laws for electric powered trikes?
Nothing is mentioned on the selling page. Could come as a nasty shock when the new owner finds it has to be road registered and taxed
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[flecc]

A to B magazine tested two Cycles Maximus electric trikes without registration etc. One was a 5 cwt van with a Heinzmann motor in the front wheel, the other a Taxi (rickshaw) with the hugely powerful Lynch motor on the back axle, that rated at 200 watts but with an initial peak reaching almost 5 kilowatts. From memory I think the latter was 140 kilos all in.

They were treated as legal for a long time, but I think the position has changed/is about to change for that company and others like it.

On this page of their site they still claim the Lynch motor system is street legal:

Electric assist

However, at the foot of the page they cautiously add this:

"It is the customers responsibility to check the local road traffic regulations, if the vehicles are to be used on public roads"

Have a look at the home page afterwards to see the trikes, the smartest around.
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[MonVal Electra]

QUOTE "So where does this one fall, as regards to the law and electric powered vehicles? Anyone know?
It's got to be well over 40kg (motorbike classification), but it's not two wheels - it's a trike.
Are there different laws for electric powered trikes?"

Hello Footie

Uk law stipulates that for electric tandems and trikes, their weight must not exceed 60kg and that maximum continous power is 250Watts as compared to the Uk law for electric bicycles -max weight 40kg and 200Watts continuous power.

see also "Kinetics.org.uk" click on electric bikes, then select "background info" and this will give you the position of law re the above power and will tell of the differnce between a pedelec and E-bike for those who are not sure

 

[Jeremy]

The current UK law on EAPCs does seem to be a bit of poor legislation, if someone can claim that a Lynch motor powered bike is legal.

I've been wanting to build a velomobile for a while now, but had thought of making it a series hybrid (pedals driving an alternator, which charges batteries that power the back wheel). Although this arrangement is inherently less efficient under best-case conditions than a direct chain drive, due to the losses in the alternator and motor, it does have enough plus-points to make it worth considering. These include being able to pedal at a fixed rate, whether moving or stationary, with the rate set by fitness level.

Unfortunately, as far as I can see such a system is illegal, even if the power to the wheel was limited and the maximum speed was capped. This illustrates just how daft this law is, one based purely on maximum assisted speed would be much simpler to enforce and allow low speed electric-only vehicles to be legal as well.

After all, it's only speed and weight that can be the safety concern, as one assumes that regulation should be proportional to the amount of kinetic energy available to cause damage or injury to others.

Jeremy

 

[BossBob]

There are many running around Edinburgh plying their trade.
I believe the traffic plod took an interest but last I heard had taken no action ...... too much of a minefield I think

 

[flecc]

After all, it's only speed and weight that can be the safety concern, as one assumes that regulation should be proportional to the amount of kinetic energy available to cause damage or injury to others.

Jeremy

Exactly my view too Jeremy, the lgislation could have been so simple with great advantage, just maximum speed and weight limited.

There have been number of attempts at electro-generation drives in the past, and I recently read of another bike one being attempted currently, but didn't note where that was, since they've always been abandoned for the usual reasons, weight and efficiency considerations. If I remember I'll post it.
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[flecc]

There are many running around Edinburgh plying their trade.
I believe the traffic plod took an interest but last I heard had taken no action ...... too much of a minefield I think

We have literally hundreds of unpowered ones in London, but Cambridge banned them eventually on traffic congestion grounds.

I don't know of any of those electric assist versions running on UK roads anywhere now. Are any of the Edinburgh ones power assisted?
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[Footie]

Have a look at the home page afterwards to see the trikes, the smartest around.

I do like those trikes. One of them would be great for carring my golf gear to the local club .... cant seem to get the balance right on my bike rack
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[flecc]

I do like those trikes. One of them would be great for carring my golf gear to the local club .... cant seem to get the balance right on my bike rack
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They are great, but hugely unpopular with car drivers. The Lynch powered one spends most of it's life at 6 to 8 mph and is just wide enough to keep all following traffic at that on most of our roads.
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