Electricity bicycles

brat

Satoshi wrote: »

What is the legality of a motorised ebike in the UK?

http://www.bikeberry.com/gas-engine-kits/gas-engine-kits/49cc-flying-horse-5g-pull-start-bicycle-engine-kit-4-stroke.html

What are the requirments to be tax/insur free?

I linked to the regs in the previous post. Have a look here...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1983/1168/regulation/4/made

In a nutshell...
They must weigh no more than 40kg,
They must have an electrical motor no more powerful than 0.2kw
They must have pedals that work
The motor can only propel the bike at speeds no greater than 15mph.

Satoshi

brat wrote: »

I linked to the regs in the previous post. Have a look here...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1983/1168/regulation/4/made

In a nutshell...
They must weigh no more than 40kg,
They must have an electrical motor no more powerful than 0.2kw
They must have pedals that work
The motor can only propel the bike at speeds no greater than 15mph.

Thanks for that, are there any ebike with a petrol motor hybrid under 40KG that can not go over 15mph assisted?

Is it possible and if so have there ever been any in the uk?

brat

Correct me if I'm wrong, but does the 'e' in ebike not refer to electric?

The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 provide an exemption from tax insurance registration etc for certain powered vehicles as long as they fit the tight specifications of the regs.

I cant think why you would want to have a petrol powered bike limited to 15mph, because the very fact that it is a petrol powered vehicle would exclude it from the EAPCR exemption.

Cornucopia

So to summarise, the PsTB have set some quite stringent criteria for electric bikes taking into account safety and liability considerations.

For whatever reason, some people seem to think those criteria are overly "sensible". Which is a POV, and those people could lobby Government accordingly.

Given the number of people who believe that there should be some form of licensing/regulation/insurance for non-e-bikes - good luck with getting more powerful e-bikes on our roads without those considerations.

Personally, I think that the requirement to actively pedal and the 0.2kw limit could be removed without compromising the principles involved (as long as the overall weight and speed limits remained). But I can't see it happening any time soon.

Shepherdspy

Hi-I bought a folding ebike in 2007,200W Motor,10AH battery..(Lithium type)..I have about an 8 mile commute that's not hilly,though there are hilly bits with viewpoints hereabouts that I take it to in nice weather....I don't think this particular one's still on the market now.it's branded as a "Synergie Vivace".I've seen similar ones on Ebay. the battery is a standard type,and I've replaced it quite recently ..it's a great commuter,and being a folder,I can put it in the car and use it at other destinations.

Si_Clist

So is nobody distinguishing between an e-bike which has a throttle and which is to all intents and purposes an electric moped, and a pedelec, on which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedalling?