We asked Markus Riese, founder and CEO of Riese & Müller (whose company does speed versions of many of their e-bikes - including the incredible full-sus e-cargo Load range pictured above) to highlight how they could transform travel. Speed pedelecs are a sub-classification of mopeds, so they cannot travel on bike lanes and paths (if you need to know, the sub-classification is L1e-B, for motors up to 4Kw and speeds up to 28mph - note three and four wheelers are allowed in this class, but only those with 'twinned' wheels on the same axle that are less than 460mm apart). Again, it's all about getting the vehicle registered, but the red tape involved can be tricky - as ebiketips found out - and there are more restrictions on riding them compared to regular 15.5mph e-bikes. With a speed pedelec, or S-pedelec, you still need to pedal, but you can reach electric-assisted speeds of up to 28mph. 15.5mph three- and four-wheelers and multi-seat vehicles Prices of Wisper bikes start at £1,499 before the addition of the throttle-only approval fee. You would assume all machines classified as mopeds need a helmet to be worn, registration plate, insurance etc, but this little-known category means that is not so and you can ride them just like e-bikes. Technically these machines are not e-bikes but 250W LPMs (low powered mopeds). ![]() The service (and fee) can be applied to any of their 806, 705 and 905 lines of e-bikes. Wisper offer this service for £199, including VAT. They must then take the bike to a designated MOT centre for testing and approval. ![]() They can also be ridden in cycle lanes and on bridleways.Īnyone can apply for the Type Approval certificate by filling in an online application and paying a fee of £55.00. They are also effective and nippy in busy town traffic.ĭavid Miall from Wisper Electric Bicycles successfully lobbied for throttle-only machines to be allowed on UK roads - and that means they can be ridden much like regular e-bikes with no helmet no registration and plate and no tax or insurance. ones where the pedals don't have to be turning for the motor to work) have some clear advantages over pedelecs, such as if a person has health problems that make it difficult to pedal or wants to take heavy loads on an e-bike where a pedal start on a hill can be difficult to balance. ![]() Legal e-bikes require pedals to be turned for the motor to provide assistance, so in general terms throttle-only e-bikes or 'twist and gos' are not accommodated by current e-bike law. Throttle-only e-bikes/electric low-powered mopeds So what light electric vehicles can you legally ride in the UK right now? 1. Some vehicles like speed pedelecs can, at a push, be made to fit into these categories and can be ridden on UK roads, whilst others, like e-scooters, currently cannot. Critically, all these vehicle categories require type approval from the relevant UK government department - unlike bikes and e-bikes. This is a veritable definition soup, mixing such factors as vehicle weight, number of wheels, number of seats, speed limits, motor power limits. It's not all doom and gloom as we see in the next section - but there are clearly changes the government could make (although that's a topic for another time).Ĭurrent light electric vehicle law is based around European law's 'L' category vehicles. There are many examples where current law tries to force the round peg of innovative electric vehicles into the square hole of legislation, structured around heavy, expensive motor vehicles. There are a number of factors that stop light electric vehicles (LEVs) and personal electric vehicles (PEVs) like e-scooters from becoming more popular, but in many cases the presence of a legal black hole where clear legislation should be is a major deterrent. As long as these conditions are met, and the manufacturer says it has complied with a prescribed set of e-bike standards, anyone over 14 years old can ride on one on UK roads and cycle paths. They are essentially treated as bikes without a motor as long as their motor is rated at 250W or less and assists you whilst pedaling, with the further stipulation that the max speed the motor can assist to is 15.5mph. Many people have commented over the years that e-bikes have a very privileged legal position. ![]() Why are there so many e-bikes but so few light electric vehicles? (Or, Type Approval - boring but important) However, with petrol and car prices soaring it might just be worth looking at the other light electric options beyond regular e-bikes. But there is a perception - and in some cases a reality - that other kinds of light electric vehicle are trickier to ride legally on the road. As even those only vaguely acquainted with them know, they can be treated just like regular bikes. It really couldn't be easier to buy and use an e-bike.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |