Bosch manager in interview: eBike over-motorization is a risk to our business, because eBikes with more than 800 Watt power will lead to much stricter regulations
Interview with Bosch e-bike boss: "EU regulation that doesn't fit the problem"
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The whole industry is worried, but it's not about one company. With motors like these, we are moving further and further away from bicycles, and as an industry, we risk e-bikes being regulated by the EU. So far, e-bikes have been treated the same as bicycles in the EU. And we as the ZIV want to protect this status. To achieve this, we need to clarify the gray areas in regulation that define what is and what is not a bicycle. And two values are important here: performance and the ratio between rider power and motor power.
In this respect, DJI achieves values with the Avinox motor with 1000 watts and 800 percent muscle gain that did not exist before.
As I said, it's not just about one specific brand. It's about everyone pushing the performance values upwards. And the EU could look at this and ask: What are you actually doing here with your Newton meter power assistance factor race? Unlike the e-bike, the S-pedelec with a cut-off speed of 45 km/h is considered a moped in the L1 class and is subject to type approval. The type approval defines the assistance factor 4 for the S-pedelec.
And now the e-bike manufacturers are launching e-bikes that do not require type approval with a factor of 8 on the market.
Note that there is some confusing terminology: "eBike" as a common (but wrong) term means a bicycle with assistance electric power which is limited to 25 km/h in speed. The proper term for this is "Pedelec". In difference to this, "S-Pedelec" means a light motorcycle which in Germany can go with up to 45 km/h, needs insurance, license plate, strict technical certification, helmet - and cannot, of course, use bicycle paths and cycle lanes.
And I forgot to say, all these safety regulations are written in blood.
Blood because roads and footpaths have been designed for cars only
Does that mean you would agree without any hesitation if the regulation come from Netherlands?
The Netherlands already has quite strict rules around e-bikes and is looking into tightening things even more as there’s a rise in e-bike accidents. Currently it’s no support above 25km/h, no throttle, <250W.
That's the EU regulation, so not only the Netherlands.
And I think it's pretty sensible. 25km/h without much effort is pretty fast, 250w isn't peak so these bikes are crazy strong. Now if you get a hub motor, these have less torque when starting from still stand. But for example with a bosch motor in the middle you can have the torque in the same gear that you would start from a still stand anyways.
