Changes to electric bike throttle rules from 1 January 2016
Some electric bike owners may already be aware that on 6 April 2015 the regulations on electric bikes were changed in order to bring the UK more into line with the rest of the EU. These regulations (The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles – EAPC – (Amendment) Regulations 2015) do not come into effect until 1 January 2016, but it is useful to understand what the changes mean and how they relate to you.
If you love reading Government regulations you will find them HERE
If you would prefer a more readable version you will find them explained HERE
Summary of the changes
Firstly, if you already have an electric bike DON’’T WORRY! If it was legal when you bought it, it will still be legal after 1 January 2016. The new regulations will not be backwardly dated, and you do not need to do anything.
The main benefits will be to increase the maximum motor power from 200W to 250W, and the maximum speed to 15.5 mph (from 15 mph), in line with the EU.
The only grey area, from our point of view, is the new legal status of the throttle. There is still uncertainty, but it seems as though if a new bike is sold after 1 January 2016, and it has a throttle, the throttle may be restricted to 6 km/h (4 mph). This is very different from the current 15 mph and means that the throttle may only be used for getting up to walking speed.
NOTE: If your electric bike has a throttle (this applies to FreeGo, Wisper and Juicy Bike) and you have already bought it before 1 January 2016 then you do not have to change anything. Your bike will still be legal.
There is scope in the new regulations for models to become ‘type approved’, but at the moment most manufacturers are playing safe to see how things go next year.
Do you need to do anything?
No, you do not need to do anything. The only reason that you might want to do anything would be if:
a) you do not yet have an electric bike and you quite like to idea of having an electric bike with a throttle that will take you up to 15 mph
b) you already have an electric bike with a throttle and you would like to replace it with a new one before the law changes. (If you have an electric bike through your cycle to work scheme this might be a good time to consider selling it and getting a new one!)
If you do decide to get a new bike please act soon! We currently have stock of the bikes with faster throttles. But, as you will appreciate, we will stop replacing these in the next few months so that we do not have any left over when the law changes. After 1 January 2016 we will conform with the new regulations.
Please telephone us or send us an email if you have any questions.
Ebike Centres, Leicester
Tel: 0116 254 0888
Email: admin@ebike-centres.co.uk
