Pedelec
More powerful e-bikes, such as the S-Pedelecs and power-on-demand e-bikes (those whose motors can provide assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedalling) are often classified as mopeds or even motorcycles with the rider thus subject to the regulations of such motor vehicles, e.g., having a license and a vehicle registration, wearing a helmet, etc.
A patent (US 3,884,317) for the principle of the pedelec was awarded to Augustus Kinzel in 1975, and suitable legislation for these appeared in 1983 in the UK.
In 1989, Michael Kutter, founder of the Swiss company Velocity and later Dolphin E-bikes, designed and produced his first pedelec prototype.
[2] After some years, the name Flyer became a synonym for e-bikes in Switzerland due to heavy promotion initially in senior-citizen and tourist rental markets.
He had already co-developed the pedelec principle in 1988, but then used a gasoline engine, as his motivation wasn't mainly environmental, but to promote exercise.
Up to 2018, the Canadian company BioniX produced an easy-to-install pedelec kit with a gearless hub motor complete with rear wheel, that also became popular in Europe.
b and d Road Traffic Act 1960 (StVO 1960)[11] in conjunction with § 1 paragraph 2a Motor Vehicle Law 1967 (KFG 1967)[12] two types of electric bikes can be distinguished:
If the above criteria are exceeded, the electric bicycle (equal if a so-called S-Pedelec or any other e-bike) it is a motor vehicle under the rules of the KFG 1967 and not a "Fahrrad" under the StVO 1960 and is only allowed to drive as a moped with the corresponding consequences.
It must be a liability insurance be completed, it is the helmet and a driver's license of the corresponding class L1-eB (Vehicle classification "Two-wheel moped" in the Regulation (EU) No 168/2013) must be present.
For these, the buyer should make sure to receive a COC (certificate of conformity) from the dealer in addition to the purchase contract.
However, any pedelec where the power assistance is triggered by merely turning wheels rather than pedal motion (a large number of cheap versions or notoriously front hub assistance), are required to have a licence plate for a scooter / small motorcycle (so called snorfiets or bromfiets), a valid driving licence and an insurance.
[citation needed] There is no speedlimit by law for human powered vehicles, including un-assisted pedelecs at > 25 kmh speed.
Electric bicycles, for example Specialized Turbo, without 25 km/h speed limitation for power assistance are considered a small motorcycle and besides license plate (yellow with black letters), driving license and insurance, a 'motorcycle helmet' must be worn at all time from the start of 2017 and onwards.
A large fleet of electric bicycles and pedelecs without required power control linked to the pedaling effort can be seen on the cycling paths without any proper registration.
In December 2008, the assist ratio was updated as follows:[17] In October 2017, only for the special case that 3 wheel bicycle that draws a cart with a device to be drawn, the ratio was updated as follows: (See Moped) As of 30 May 2012, Australia has an additional new electric bicycle category using the European model of a "Pedelec" as per EN15194 Standard.
This means the bicycle can have a motor of 250 watts continuous rated power which must be activated only by pedalling (if above 6 km/h) and must cut out over 25 km/h.
Most models are also equipped with a battery charge indicator and a motor power setting, either continuously or divided into support levels.
In ideal conditions, after a thousand charges NiCd batteries have 85% of their original capacity and are therefore considered worn.
In evaluating pedelec batteries, it is useful to consider not only the capacity, but also criteria such as durability, memory effect, charging time, weight, safety and environmental protection.
When running with a force sensor, the motor is automatically a certain percentage of the service provided to the driver.
In the version with speed sensor (s) of the motor is automatically using a function to a set percentage of the self-applied force.
The shift means has the advantage that you can let the bike roll along with motor support without pedaling or you push yourself (e.g. must, when transporting a heavy load, or so you walk up the wheel alone on a hill may be).
In any case, it allows for a faster (and more controlled physically) starting from standstill to "green" switches over light .
On some models, by default two successive switchable batteries are housed in luggage bags, here is the range specified at medium power addition of 100 km.
Thus, a pedelec with a 70 kg rider (total mass of ≈100 kg) can be calculated to go about 5.6 kilometres on a 10% grade at 25 km/h on battery power alone (assuming frontal area = 0.4 meter-squared, drag coefficient = 0.7, altitude = 100m, wind speed = 10 km/h (2.8 m/s) and rolling resistance coefficient = 0.007[21][22]).
Depending on the assistance of the rider (which is required on a pedelec), a proportionally greater range is possible.
Hilly areas provide changing conditions; this poses the possibility of encountering more critical situations and thus more accidents may occur.
[23][24][25] On the other hand, many pedelec (and e-bike) users report that they can ride more defensively with the auxiliary electric drive assisting them; unlike traditional bicyclists that tend to be averse to braking since this incurs effort to accelerate again, a pedelec rider can brake and then accelerate back to a normal speed with much less effort.
