Throttle vs power assistance

[Cisco-man]

I accept that in the UK you aren’t allowed a throttle, and have the pedal sensor so that the motor only assists if you are peddling.
The word throttle implies to me what you get on a motorbike - you turn the twist grip and the engine gives you more umph - which on the pedelec is more like selecting the power assist level on the controller - which you are allowed to have (confusing).
So are you allowed to have a twist grip that dictates the level of power assist, as long as you have a pedal sensor to turn off the motor if you aren’t peddling?

 

[saneagle]

I accept that in the UK you aren’t allowed a throttle, and have the pedal sensor so that the motor only assists if you are peddling.
The word throttle implies to me what you get on a motorbike - you turn the twist grip and the engine gives you more umph - which on the pedelec is more like selecting the power assist level on the controller - which you are allowed to have (confusing).
So are you allowed to have a twist grip that dictates the level of power assist, as long as you have a pedal sensor to turn off the motor if you aren’t peddling?

Yes.
.

 

[Cisco-man]

Yes.
.

Are they commonly available? I only want assistance for the odd hill or slope, and a little help to overcome the extra weight and friction of the e-kit, or when I can’t be arsed to put effort in. There doesn’t seem to be much information about regarding interfacing with the controllers.

 

[saneagle]

Are they commonly available? I only want assistance for the odd hill or slope, and a little help to overcome the extra weight and friction of the e-kit, or when I can’t be arsed to put effort in. There doesn’t seem to be much information about regarding interfacing with the controllers.

You can do that with a KT controller. Some other controllers can do it and some OEM ebikes have it in the settings too. The Chinese refer to it as "non-zero throttle" as opposed to a normal throttle being a zero throttle or zero start throttle.

 

[Cisco-man]

You can do that with a KT controller. Some other controllers can do it and some OEM ebikes have it in the settings too. The Chinese refer to it as "non-zero throttle" as opposed to a normal throttle being a zero throttle or zero start throttle.

Thanks Saneagle.
I started with a swytch kit because for a novice it just falls onto the bike with no thought required - although not cheap. I’m beginning to see that with research and more effort, I could have had a lot more for a lot less! I shall look into KT controllers…

 

[saneagle]

Thanks Saneagle.
I started with a swytch kit because for a novice it just falls onto the bike with no thought required - although not cheap. I’m beginning to see that with research and more effort, I could have had a lot more for a lot less! I shall look into KT controllers…

That's how many of us started.