20,000 units electric bicycle sales in the UK in 2011 seems quite a lot consi...

Julian Bond - 2012-10-12 11:12:39+0000 - Updated: 2012-10-12 11:14:28+0000

20,000 units electric bicycle sales in the UK in 2011 seems quite a lot considering that electric bicycles are quite hard to buy, maintain and get support for in the UK.

http://www.bikebiz.com/index.php/news/read/uk-bike-sales-slip-in-2011/013764 2nd in bicycles sales, 7th in e-bicycle sales in Europe. Germany tops both.

Britain has the seventh largest electric bike market in Europe

Jas Strong - 2012-10-12 20:13:24+0000

The UK's laws on e-bikes are horrible- 200 watts maximum is just not enough.

Julian Bond - 2012-10-12 20:46:19+0000

Well by a kind of blind eye agreement, it's actually EU rules of 250w, 25kph but with the UK's throttle as well as pedelec allowed.

But just not enough? Not enough for what? Do you want a bicycle with power assist or a moped with pedals?

Jas Strong - 2012-10-12 21:18:47+0000

I use my e-bike to pull a cargo trailer- with a full supermarket shopping load on board, 400 watts is a bare minimum for making it up any kind of hill at a reasonable speed.

Julian Bond - 2012-10-13 06:45:31+0000 - Updated: 2012-10-13 06:48:37+0000

Well my own bike is a nominal 350w (Bafang BPM) so I understand the need. But conversely, and as a motorcyclist, I have very mixed feelings about allowing much over 15mph max powered speed in an unlicensed vehicle. Just to be clear, I'm all in favour of the electric equivalent of 50cc mopeds and 125cc learner motorcycles with tests, registration, helmets, insurance and so on. And with that, processes that can cope with home builds. But for all kinds of reasons, I think unlicensed, unregulated bicycles should be fairly limited and the EU rules are not far out of order.

It's funny reading about the USA, Canada, Aus and even China struggling with the difference between E-Scooters and E-Bikes.

Jas Strong - 2012-10-13 06:47:28+0000

I ride a bigger motorcycle than you do, for sure, but I don't see any direct correlation between motor power and danger. The variable you actually want to control is speed. I'm quite happy with the Californian rule (750 watts and 25 mph max).

Julian Bond - 2012-10-13 06:48:52+0000 - Updated: 2012-10-13 06:49:20+0000

Bigger than a GSXR750? The profile pic is an old Velocette I hired a few years ago for a few days.

Jas Strong - 2012-10-13 06:55:16+0000

I have a heavily tuned BMW R1150R (143 bhp.)