What Does The Rest Of The World Know That We Don’t?
I was just doing some research for a Slovenian fellow asking for help finding a conversion kit. I was surprised that he was willing to spend so much to have a motor that then would be dramatically limited. Slovenian e-bike laws are quite restricted and well enforced. This led me down a rabbit hole of The World’s laws concerning e-bikes.
Those of us in The U.S. should be concerned. We need to be open minded enough to realize we can learn from the rest of The World. We need to be asking ourselves, what do they know that we don’t?
Most shocking to me was that almost none of The Chinese bikes imported to The U.S. are legal in China! Here are some of the rules from the country with 1/3 of The World’s bicycles and more e-bikes total or per capita than anyone else…
Key points:
- Motor Power: The rated output of the motor on a Chinese e-bike cannot exceed 400 watts (U.S. is 750, but motors well over 2k are jmported).
- Battery Voltage: The battery voltage is also restricted to a maximum of 48 volts (no U.S. limit, but up to 72 volts is common).
- Speed Limit: The maximum speed for a Chinese e-bike is set at 25 kilometers per hour. (that’s under 16mph, but the limit in The U.S. is 45kph/28mph).
- Throttles are not allowed (throttles okay in The U.S, but are supposed to be limited to 20mph… routinely running much faster).
- Weight Limit: The total weight of the e-bike, including the battery, cannot exceed 55 kilograms (that’s 121#’s, but there is no limit in The U.S.).
For their own bikes, China has much more stringent battery safety standards than the rest of The World. They address BMS failures the rest of us do not. In almost every area their standards surpass every other country. By 2025 this will be true of their battery exports as well. BTW, I got this off ul.com.
It isn’t just China that has something to share. The Canadians have had superior manufacturing safety standards for years. This applies to more than just batteries and chargers. The E.U. and GB have higher frame, wheel and component standards and have adopted Canada’s battery safety regulations as well (similar to U.L, but with gov’t oversight The U.S. does not have…or at least is not enforcing). Australia requires a certification of compliance if a bike made for use on private land is used in public. In The U.S, you can build a dual 3k watt motor bike and the police have to prove it is so in order to keep you ftom riding it (yes, these do exist even in The Quad Cities; I’ve been asked to work on them). This list goes on.
There is a small, but growing segment of The U.S that will never again be able to afford a safe or reliable automobile. Some of us just can’t abide automotive expenses greater than paying rent! The Three Class E-Bike System in The U.S. was created to provide a more affordable transportation alternative. That is why speeds are limited to less than mopeds. There is no need for DOT approved lights, suspensions or tires for the same reason. E-bikes were meant to make traditional cycling easier, more convenient and accessible, not faster.
It pains me to write this, but The U.S. needs a well funded and functioning CPSC like we had in The 70’s. When someone you love is run down by a speeding, illegal e-bike, weighing over 70#’s, with brakes designed for bikes under 30#’s, this won’t sound like so much gov’t over reach. Without it, e-bikes will be banned from more and more places (local control). We tried deregulation, it did not work. Let’s move on.