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Ministers to consult on doubling legal wattage of electric bike motors
Afasoas:
Guardian article
--- Quote ---The Department for Transport will launch the consultation on Thursday, the Guardian understands, which will propose changing the maximum allowable power of an e-bike motor from 250w to 500w.
Another possible move would allow e-bikes to be powered by a throttle, like a motorbike. Currently, they must be pedalled for the electric motor to start working.
--- End quote ---
The cynic in me thinks that the DfT has no intention of enacting this, but is dredging it up to stoke anti-cycling sentiment as part of the ongoing culture war.
I've no experience of e-bikes so I can't possibly comment on whether or not it is wise to double the legal limit on power output. Although 500W seems like a lot. With that much power and a throttle, we're effectively talking about speed restricted electric mopeds?
DuncanM:
I don't get it. 250W is plenty for 99% of cyclists, and 15mph means that you still can't keep up with traffic. Feels to me like they are fixing the wrong one.
Regulator:
--- Quote from: Afasoas on 29 February, 2024, 10:20:44 am ---Guardian article
--- Quote ---The Department for Transport will launch the consultation on Thursday, the Guardian understands, which will propose changing the maximum allowable power of an e-bike motor from 250w to 500w.
Another possible move would allow e-bikes to be powered by a throttle, like a motorbike. Currently, they must be pedalled for the electric motor to start working.
--- End quote ---
The cynic in me thinks that the DfT has no intention of enacting this, but is dredging it up to stoke anti-cycling sentiment as part of the ongoing culture war.
I've no experience of e-bikes so I can't possibly comment on whether or not it is wise to double the legal limit on power output. Although 500W seems like a lot. With that much power and a throttle, we're effectively talking about speed restricted electric mopeds?
--- End quote ---
I agree with you somewhat, in that I think that's how it will be hanlded... although I know that some of the delivery services have been lobbying ministers - partly because their machines aren't currently legal (yes - we're looking at you Just Eat) and they're trying to get ahead of a potential law suit.
Afasoas:
I was thinking about electrically assisted cargo bikes. On the face of it, this more power sounds like a good idea for a laden cargo bike, but do we need to consider that heavier, electrically assisted (or in the case of a throttle, fully motorised) conveyances increase risk of serious injury to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users when it goes pear shaped ???
I dunno. I'm probably overthinking.
Also, interesting this consultation is the result of lobbying by delivery services. It would be most unlike the Government of the day to do something as a sheer kindness.
peter simplex:
--- Quote from: Afasoas on 29 February, 2024, 10:36:05 am ---I was thinking about electrically assisted cargo bikes. On the face of it, this more power sounds like a good idea for a laden cargo bike, but do we need to consider that heavier, electrically assisted (or in the case of a throttle, fully motorised) conveyances increase risk of serious injury to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users when it goes pear shaped ???
I dunno. I'm probably overthinking.
Also, interesting this consultation is the result of lobbying by delivery services. It would be most unlike the Government of the day to do something as a sheer kindness.
--- End quote ---
I dunno, perhaps you don't have to contend with fully laden Ocado delivery bikes going 20mph the wrong way down narrow cycle paths. Just waiting for a serious injury or fatality...
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