Do you want to be informed daily with the latest news from the motor world?The European trade association LEVA-EU has made a request to Europe to make an urgent change in the regulations regarding electric bicycles.A regulation that limits the power and the use of systems as accelerators, which they indicate seriously impedes the sales of some fundamental systems, at a time when cities are betting on the use of electric vehicles as an alternative form of transport during the crisis of the coronavirus.This association has presented a new proposal to the European Commission to review the regulations that it considers inaccurate and inconsistent, especially in a society that has changed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis and that needs regulations on sectors such as electric bicycles to be modified as soon as possible.From LEVA-EU they work to defend the use of electric bicycles with two, three and four wheels, including electric bicycles of up to 25 km/h, and those capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 km/h, as well as electric scooters. .Means of personal transportation facing regulation that in many cases regulation puts them in the same category as mopeds and motorcycles by exceeding a certain supporting power or speed, seriously hampering the industry at 'absolutely the wrong time' .Annick Roetynck, manager of LEVA-UE, said that the European Commission only has to watch as cycle lanes are being opened in a hurry across Europe as the public seeks safe alternative forms of transport in the face of the epidemic.She called for a change in regulations to take the brakes off innovation and business in the sector, largely made up of small and medium-sized firms.“Our concern is focused on Regulation 168/2013, which establishes the technical legislation for L-category vehicles, in other words, mopeds and motorcycles.At the request of the Commission, the European Council and Parliament decided in 2013 to exclude only electric bicycles with pedal assistance up to 25 km/h and 250 W from this category L. Therefore, all other electric bicycles are included in the legislation. technique, which was originally written for internal combustion engine mopeds and motorcycles.”“The legislation is 1,036 pages of text, largely devoted to emissions, noise and other technical aspects that have nothing to do with electric bikes.Manufacturers have to determine which of these 1,036 pages are applicable to, say, their pedelec, throttle models, or their cargo bikes with more than 250W. And if they get it all, they have to go through an approval procedure.This regulation is a major barrier to SMEs and growth at a key time when we see the growth in popularity and profile of light electric vehicles as a sustainable form of transport."The association notes that classifying LEVs in the same category as mopeds also presents significant safety concerns for drivers.Most light electric vehicles in the L category can reach a maximum cruising speed of 30-35 km/h, but classifying them as mopeds drives them off the cycle paths onto the roads, and all with a few systems capable of reaching speeds. below 50 km/h.That speed difference results in dangerous driving conditions that discourage many users from making the decision to electrify their transportation.Another of the barriers of electric bicycles is that the current regulation means that those equipped with systems of more than 250W and support above 25 km/h have to go through an overly demanding approval process, which raises the costs for small companies that are forced to raise the prices of their products.A whiting that bites its own tail that could only be solved with legislation more in line with reality.And it is that even many users do not even ask that the speed of the support be raised beyond 25 km/h, but that they allow the installation of higher power systems to be able to carry more load, as well as the power to climb slopes without a serious loss of speed.Something that slows down journeys and discourages many potential buyers such as those who have some difficulty in their mobility and need a vehicle without a pedal assist that can work with an accelerator.Now it remains to be seen if the slow bureaucratic mechanism of the EU takes note of this request, and finally faces an urgent legislative change at a time of serious health crisis that forces us to look for an alternative such as the electric bicycles themselves that they see as part of the market. It is limited by an absurd regulation.Related |Collaborative article.The electric bicycles with the best quality/price ratio on the marketSubscribe to our newsletter:Forococheselectricos is the first portal in Spanish dedicated to the world of sustainable transport technologies, and where we pay special attention to new forms of mobility.Electric cars, electric motorcycles, recharging points, hydrogen fuel cells...Legal notice |Privacy Policy |Cookie Policy |Contact |privacy settings