newbie in the uk

[chris j]

Hi my name is chris

And just putting together my first electric bike, I am going to use it off road and on road to I have got a crystalyte motor + controller + 48w- 20 ah battery its going to be over the 250 w limit but when I ride it on the road I will using the display unit reduce the power to 250. this should keep me within the law and wont ride over the 15 m/a limit. Will this be ok with the law, what is your take on this.



chris

 

[flecc]

Don't worry too much about the power Chris, all the e-bikes on the market are capable of far greater maximum power than the 250 watt legal limit. Most have a maximum of about double, and 250 watts only is near to useless as you will find out by dialling that in.

Our almost defunct UK regulation has no tolerance, but the official test for compliance to the EU based regulations (which are about to replace ours) does allow for much higher power. Hence the mainstream e-bikes higher actual maximum powers.

The assist speed has no tolerance in either law, if the e-bike is capable of higher than 15.6 mph assistance it is illegal, just keeping down to that speed does not make it legal. The DfT allows the usual 10% tolerance, giving 17 mph as the fastest assist in practice. However, as long as you are sensible the chances of being detected are minimal, it's only if you are involved in an accident and the police investigate your e-bike could there be a problem.
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[chris j]

thanks flecc don't think I will stick out to the police as I wont be going fast at all I am 50 and just wanted the power to keep me going on my bike as its getting harder now to get up the hills. I use my bike to get me to local places that I use for my hobby of nature photography, that why some of the riding is of road also the kit I have to take with me is very heavy and makes things even harder without the help of the motor.

 

[flecc]

my hobby of nature photography

My hobby too Chris, but I like working light with consumer cameras only, treating it as a challenge. Over the last couple of years engaged in cataloging and photographing all the life forms in the local nature reserve for a reserve support group project to get everything onto their website. Photos on the Fauna, Fungi and Flora pages, mine mostly in the first two of those:

http://www.friendsofselsdonwood.co.uk/
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