Britons say no to doubling e-bike motor power

The British government has called off plans to allow doubling the motor power of e-bikes from 250 watts to a maximum of 500 watts. The main reason for not implementing the measure is because of safety concerns.

The decision keeps the U.K. in line with EU countries where the exact same support limit of 25 km/h and a maximum power of 250 watts applies.

The British Conservatives had introduced a bill to increase the maximum continuous power of e-bikes from 250W to 500W. However, the British government is now abandoning the plan, a decision based on a Department for Transport (DfT) public consultation regarding increasing the maximum power of electrically assisted bicycles (EAPCs) or e-bikes.

Indeed, 51% of the 2,121 consultant respondents – a mix of local authorities, police and fire departments, active travel companies, and EAPCs suppliers – did not favor it. However, this “cannot mean the reflective of public opinion,” the consultation response wrote.

“While the difference between the overall number of respondents being in favor and those not in favor was relatively small, this was not the case with main stakeholder organizations, with the vast majority opposing the proposals.”

Risk to other road users

The main reasons for rejecting the proposal are the possible increase in fire risk caused by e-bikes, and the danger more powerful bikes pose to other road users. Significantly increased road safety risks due to more significant acceleration and overtaking or a higher uncapped speed if tampered with.

This is not to say that the baby is being thrown out with the bathwater. Many of the respondents consistently agreed that the motor power of 500W also offers many advantages, such as supporting riding up hills and gradients, supporting the use of e-cycles as a mobility aid by disabled people, older people, or people who are less physically fit, or that it can push the use of e-cargo bikes.

When asked if they would support the alternative proposal for disabled people or e-cargo bike users, more than 62% and 88% of respondents responded positively, respectively.

Higher throttle assistance

When asked whether they support or oppose the proposed change to allow EAPCs to have throttle assistance up to 15,5 mph (25 km/h) without the need for type approval instead of the existing 3,73 mph (6 km/h) as currently regulated, there was also a negative response: just under 53% were opposed, while 43,75% of respondents were in favor.

The main reason for opposing the proposal is that the introduction of throttle controls could lead to stricter regulations, making access to electric transport more difficult.

Canada is the exception

For your information: The regulations regarding EAPCs, or e-bikes, can vary widely between countries and even within regions of those countries. In most EU countries, manufacturers cannot sell e-bikes with motors providing more than 250W of power.

However, member states may have regulations that allow for higher wattage, up to 500W in some cases. In turn, the speed peddle’s motor power is a maximum of 4,000W – in the Belgian Road Code, the speed pedelec is considered a class P moped.

In Canada, e-bikes with motors up to 500W are generally permitted, as in the U.S., where Federal law defines e-bikes with motors up to 750W as permissible under certain conditions, but state and local regulations may vary.

In Australia and Japan, e-bikes with motors up to 250W are also allowed as standard, but ‘down under’ some states allow up to 500W with pedal assistance, while in Japan, specific regulations can vary.

Fire safety measures

This week, the British government also released a report with several measures to address e-bike fires. The study on the fire safety of e-bike and e-scooter lithium-ion batteries, chargers, and e-bike conversion kits, for example, shows a substantial difference in quality and, thus, safety between reliable e-bikes and e-bike conversion kits.

Of the 56% of incidents that could be ascertained, compared to original equipment manufacturers, more than three-quarters involved conversion kits. The report also emphasizes that many unsafe batteries find their way to individuals online and that economic pressure leads riders to seek out high-risk conversion kits.

Various trade and cycling associations and manufacturers, therefore, hope that the British government will soon stop supplying unsafe products through foreign countries and online markets.

Furthermore, the Department for Transport also insisted this week that it has “no intention of requiring cyclists, including those who ride Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles, to display number plates or to have insurance.”

In conclusion, according to data from research group Mordor Intelligence, the market for e-bikes in the U.K. was worth around £401.1 million (482 million euros) last year and is forecast to increase by more than 50% by 2029 to reach £666.3 million (800,7 million euros).