Image Credit: Vicky Yu, Unsplash
The UK government has dropped its legislative proposals to double the motor power of e-bikes and allow them to be powered by a throttle.
It follows the launch of a consultation from the Department for Transport (DfT) last year, which sought to determine whether the continuous maximum power of e-bike motors should be allowed to double from 250 watts to 500 watts and if they should be allowed to have full-throttle assistance similar to a motorbike.
The consultation received 2,121 responses – most of which were not in favour of the proposal.
“E-bikes can offer a healthy and environmentally friendly way of getting around – but they must work safely for everyone. That’s why the Department ran a consultation on how to make e-bikes more attractive and accessible while ensuring they remain safe,” a Department for Transport Spokesperson told Zag Daily.
“We have carefully considered the responses to the consultation, and have concluded that there is not sufficient evidence to take forward changes to regulations at this time.”
Peter Eland, Technical and Policy Director at the Bicycle Association said: “We’re grateful to all in the industry who contributed to this consultation, and believe that the Government’s decision not to proceed with these changes to the e-bike regulations is the correct one at this time.
“We do however urge Government to proceed with urgency to implement a proper regulatory framework for new forms of micromobility, so that the industry can deliver even more innovative options for sustainable mobility, with appropriate and proportionate regulations for each new vehicle type.”
In response to the question – ‘Do you support or oppose the proposed change to how EAPCs (electrically assisted pedal cycles) are classified so that the maximum continuous rated power of the electric motor must not exceed 500W instead of 250W as set out in the current regulations?’ – over 47% of respondents supported, 51% opposed, and the remainder of respondents either did not know or did not respond.
When asked what benefits respondents think would come from increasing e-bike power to 500W, the three top responses were to support riding uphill (95%), supporting physically less fit riders (85%) and supporting the use of e-cargo bikes (83%).
Respondents selected “Other reason” when asked to highlight the biggest risk of increasing e-bikes to 500W. These responses included the risk of conflating e-cycles with other forms of micromobility, concerns that road-legal electrically assisted pedal cycles would be less distinguishable from other vehicles, and that more powerful e-cycles would not suit existing active travel infrastructure.
“The previous government’s plans for e-bikes were a mess,” London Cycling Campaign Head of Campaigns and Community Development Simon Munk told Zag. “Doubling the power of e-bikes would have brought them one step closer to electric motorbikes and likely would have had serious implications given there’s too much illegal modifying of e-bikes already.”
Simon believes that there are limited instances where higher power would be an occasionally useful option – for instance, with cargo bikes being used for heavy loads in hilly areas.
“If the government wants to focus on what is really needed for everyone across the UK and the planet, funding needs to switch from building airport runways and more roads to not only electrifying current motor vehicles but reducing their use, in part by enabling active travel and public transport.
“For cycling that means a joined-up network of safe, comfortable and convenient cycle routes mostly. It’s that simple, and it’s a measure of the lack of political will and bravery still evident in the UK that despite most of Europe now doing this, despite the evidence, and despite a stable circa 65% of the population across the UK being supportive of this, it still isn’t happening reliably.”
UK charity Electrical Safety First also welcomed the government’s announcement to drop its plans on doubling e-bike motor power. “The priority should be the need to address the devastating fires being caused by substandard batteries in both bikes and scooters, which continue to claim lives,” an Electrical Safety First spokesperson said.
“As the Government’s Product Regulation and Metrology Bill progresses through Parliament it is imperative it adequately tackles the complex issues surrounding lithium-ion battery fires. We continue to urge the Government to introduce third party certification for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries as well as new safety standards for conversion kits and charging systems to reduce the risk posed by battery fires in the home. Online marketplaces must also be regulated, to stem substandard products entering people’s homes. ”
