Electric Bikes – 10 Questions
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June 20, 2008PWF has been following the large number of comments on the electric bike posts (Electric bike ‘limits’… can we change the law?, Legislation to increase electric bike power? and 300W electric bikes? An update on the legislative process) with interest.
It seems ‘assisted’ bike-like designs and ‘powered’ scooter-like designs are being confused. In an attempt to clarify the situation, Andrew -PWF’s 4-stroke polluting webmaster – has compiled a few questions regarding classification, laws and how these bikes work:
- What are electric bikes?
- What is the difference between ‘power assisted’, ‘powered’, ‘moped’, ‘scooter’?
- What are the different types of motors and drive systems?
- How are the batteries charged?
- How do watts relate to kilometres per hour?
- What speeds can electric bikes reach?
- How heavy are electric bikes?
- Are you required to register electric bikes?
- Are you required to wear a motorcycle-style helmet?
- When can I get an electric motorbike (and get rid of my polluting 4-stroke motorbike)?
Thank you Andrew!
17 Comments
According to the NSW RTA, “In NSW, any device with a motor must be registered for use on a road or road related area unless it is specifically exempt”. The good news is that power assisted bicycles are specifically exempt from registration and licenses. The bad news is that not all electric bikes qualify.
There has been a long-standing classification of pedal-assisted motorbikes (also called mopeds) in Australia, and these do need to be registered. As a general guide, if a bike looks like a bicycle with a motor attached (that is less than 200watts) then it is a power-assisted bicycle. If a bike looks like a motorbike/motor scooter with pedals then it is a pedal assisted motorbike (regardless of power).
There has been some publicity of the RTA advising people that their bike was ok to ride but then those people being stopped and fined. I suspect that there may have been some misrepresentation and a little ignorance of the fine line between the two types of vehicle. In any case, bad advice from the RTA (verbal or written) will not stop you from being prosecuted if you are on a pedal assisted motor bike.
Have a look at these references:
1. RTA Advice on Motorised Scooters, Mini bikes and Other Motorised devices. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/otherinformation/scootersminibikes.html?rlid=6
2. Australian Vehicle Standards
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_27_-_mopeds_and_motor_assisted_pedal_cycles_nov_2007.pdf
3. Recent RTA Clarification On the Topic
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/2008_05_motoriseddevices.html
4. News Article About People Prosecuted Despite RTA Advice
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/when-is-a-bike-not-a-bike-when-its-electric/2008/06/15/1213468240544.html
One more thing. Your house and contents insurance policy will have a personal liabiltiy component that covers you when you are riding a bike. You need to check the wording of your policy. Some will not cover you if your bike has a motor. None will cover you if your bike should be registered but isn’t.
So the big difference is “power-assisted” against “pedal-assisted”, and this determines if they need to be registered?
Do many of the pedal-assisted models come with compliance plates that would allow them to be registered?
The difference is that one is a bicycle and one is a motorbike.
The thing is that the importers have been importing them without compliance plates and passing them off as bicycles.
I have never seen a pedal assisted motor-bike on the road but they use to be popular (decades ago). There are some photos on the web though as they were still being made in the 80s:
From Moto Guzzi:
http://www.mopedarmy.com/photos/brand/137/3976/
and from Honda:
http://www.mopedarmy.com/photos/brand/22/1659/
Sorry, my last post got lost somewhere.
The big difference is that one is a motorbike (what the standards call a moped) and one is a bicycle. I have heard of a number of tests to tell the difference:
1. The judge in the above example considered what the main source of power was – and what was the assist power.
2. I have heard that if the pedals can be removed then it is not a bicycle.
3. One of the links above claims that if it has not been designed as a bicycle then it is not a bicycle.
4. One of the links implies and I have heard that if the motor is not an attachment then it is not a bicycle.
5. If the power of the motor is > 200 watts then it is not a bicycle.
6. I have heard that if the bike has foot rests then it is not a bicycle.
IMHO, you can tell whether it is a bicycle or not just by looking at it – everybody knows what is a bicycle and what isn’t. (Also look up “Honda Hobbit” in Google Images.)
All of the above may change. The NSW RTA has made a submission on changing the law, it is on the BFA web site at: Power_assisted_bikes_NSW_RTA_paper_2008.pdf
After reading the paper, I still find the process will still have issues. Firstly a power-to-weight ratio is a more suitable measurement, as the RTA themselves have imposed on young drivers in both motorcars and motorcycles. Additionally, what studies have been conducted to determine the suitable power-to-weight (or if they must, wattage) rating suitable for Australian conditions?
I personally don’t understand the issue of ‘throttle’ control – being able to control your speed (within the limitations imposed) would seem to me important.
Why take three years to simply ‘clarify’ what is currently already legislated?
for plenty of information regarding electric bicycles check out the electric bicycle forum
http://www.ebikehub.com/forum/
The ebikehub forum looks helpful, thanks for the link.
i have just read all the comments, and some are totally above my head with the technical language, but it was interesting anyway. My husband and i have owned an e-bike each for three years, and we really enjoyed riding them. We purchased them because we are consious of the environment, but then petrol became an issue, $1.80 pl in the country, then we were told they were illegal. It appears that they are not supposed to be able to be ridden without the motor, but my 13 yo granddaughter can ride them easily on the grass in our backyard.I agree with some of your writers, that it could be another grab for cash by government. Anyway we are not holding our breath that this will be sorted any time soon, we are nearly 70 and will probably be in an aged care facility by then
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Gas prices at this time in Lexington, KY are around $2.00 a gal. However, the oil companies hook us and then have us pay more for gas inn cycles. I don’t trust them and I will continue to ride my electric bike as much as possible.
By the way, these are the most incredible bikes I have ever seen. Thanks for an incredible blog!
You’re very welcome!
In terms of how to differenciate the E-bike or E-scooter, the Australian government DOTARD will have to follow the British law, which is what the Australian Design Regulation is based on. Simply whatever they are doing over in England, our rules and regulation on electric bike will follow.
Question10: You can alway get a Nope electric scooter instead of the dirty 4 stroke. They are around $3000, green and reliable. Most importantly it won’t cost you much to charge and maintain. It won’t be enough range for travelling more than 50km, but for around town and short trips, they are fantastic. If you want to go a step further, you can get a Vetrix Maxi, but cost a lot more and you can go on highway.
I have an olive Nope Luxe III e-bike. I love it.
i’ve found some electric bikes that are pretty reasonably priced… 2000 bucks.
they actually look really good, and I’m taking one for a test ride this weekend to see how they go.
They’re from the Gette electric bikes brand, only available in Australia I think.
check ’em out, http://www.gettebikes.com