e bike throttle

[steviebee]

First post so be gentle please. l'm just getting back into cycling after several years of just dreaming about it, l am also nudging 70 so l need to get fit gently, l also have back and hip problems so l need all the help l can get lol. l have converted a mountain bike with a legal eBike kit (250 W 15.5 MPH) which came with a pluggable throttle. l have not installed the throttle as l know it to be illegal. l have just read on a UK based eBike companies website that their bike comes with a unpluggable throttle. lt states just unplug for road use and connect when on private land. Surely the Police could say the intent is there? The reason l ask is l do metal detecting on farmland which sometimes entails a long walk from my car or some of the farms are within cycling distance (less than 5 miles). The throttle would be ideal in such circumstances. l'm wondering what peoples thoughts are on this. Thank you.

[gaz]

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[bikes4two]

l have not installed the throttle as l know it to be illegal.

> Can you provide a definitive link that says this is so please?
> I know that a throttle that applies electrical assistance WITHOUT pedalling, often referred to as 'twist and go' does not fall within the meaning of a pedelec
> However, a throttle that only applies electrical assistance whilst you are pedalling (and the assistance cuts off when you stop pedalling) is not illegal at all, or at least, that is my understanding.
> Happy to be corrected if supported by appropriate legislative links rather than some forum/web page etc.
> This feature is different to the 'walk assist' (aka startup assistance) mode that allows the bike to be electrically propelled upto 6kph

[steviebee]

'bikes4two'. The company is 'emovement' from Woking, this is copied from their web page. l will leave the throttle off just to be on the safe side. 'Gaz' below is part of their advert that refers to the unpluggable throttle.

Unparalleled Control: Unpluggable Throttle
As per the UK's law, you cannot use a throttle on the roads. This often means road-legal electric bikes come without throttles, binding you to your initial choice. However, with this pedelec, we have found an ingenious solution: an unpluggable throttle. You can simply unplug it when you are commuting. Just connect it back in for your off-road adventures.

Steve.

[gaz]

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[stodd]

There are two separate related issues:
(a) ability to have motor assist above 15.5 mph, and
(b) ability to have motor assist between 4kph and 15.5mph without pedalling.

The referenced 'off road mode' discusses (a) but does not mention (b).

I'd not noticed the use of the word 'mode' like this before, but had seen reference to 'off road switch' (often for both (a) and (b)).
The definition of switch is vague. My interpretation from reading forums (informed, but with no legal background and not necessarily correct) is that if you could make the change while riding, or while mounted it classifies as a switch and was not allowed. If the change requires deeper action, eg firmware update that cannot easily be applied while mounted, then it is OK to qualify as an EAPC. If that's correct it seems plugging/unplugging a mounted throttle would count as a switch, and so not be enough to make the bike legal even when unplugged. But completely unplugging and removing the throttle, say putting it in a pannier or backpack, would be OK.

You can get single use approval for a throttle for use (b) and remain an EPAC; £55 at one of very few places that offer the approval test.
Wisper will even sell a legal bike with a no-pedal throttle (https://wisperbikes.com/full-throttle-option/)
They charge a hefty £300, that is because it involves a lot of their time.
It will NOT allow >15.5 mph assisted speeds.

[bikes4two]

Hi steviebee, I've just briefly looked through some of the emovement web pages and they make no effort to explain the difference between 'twist and go' throttles (illegal) and throttles that are only active IF THE PEDALS ARE TURNING (legal imho and yet to be credibly refuted in this post) a setting simply and easily configured on some ebike controllers but not all.

Further, emovement say at one point that a street legal motor mustn't exceed a PEAK POWER of 250w which is complete rollocks - the max power for a street legal motor is one rated to 250w Maximum CONTINUOUS power (see EN 15194 for this) which is vastly different to peak power which can be 2 or 3 times this figure to which the likes of Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha et al easily achieve.

[steviebee]

Many thanks for all your replies , you have been really helpful. l will just leave the throttle in my shed where it is at the moment. That way l'm happy knowing l am riding within the law.

Steve.

[Lance Dopestrong]

l have just read on a UK based eBike companies website that their bike comes with a unpluggable throttle. lt states just unplug for road use and connect when on private land.

That is unlawful. If the bike can be "readily adapted" by means of menu settings, hidden switch, or plugging in a throttle then it wasn't a legal EPAC to begin with.

Thus in either configuration it should only be used on private land to which the public do not have access.

[mjr]

l have just read on a UK based eBike companies website that their bike comes with a unpluggable throttle. lt states just unplug for road use and connect when on private land.

That is unlawful. If the bike can be "readily adapted" by means of menu settings, hidden switch, or plugging in a throttle then it wasn't a legal EPAC to begin with.

What law says that, please? That seems like saying certain vintage bikes weren't legal pedal cycles because their makers (including Raleigh and Schwinn IIRC) offerred petrol engines you could bolt on, which wasn't the case.

[UpWrong]

Throttles are legal in the UK with conversion kits as long as the motor and controller comply with ePAC laws. The DoT have said they will not prosecute owner conversions. So you must buy a non-electric bike, ride it, then convert it. eBike vendors cannot do this and must put each bike through a single vehicle type approval test.

[Audax67]

Throttles are legal in the UK with conversion kits as long as the motor and controller comply with ePAC laws. The DoT have said they will not prosecute owner conversions. So you must buy a non-electric bike, ride it, then convert it. eBike vendors cannot do this and must put each bike through a single vehicle type approval test.

Bearing in mind that motorising a bike will probably invalidate the guarantee, so make sure you can reverse the conversion if anything goes wrong and you have to take it back.

It could also be that bike shops will refuse to service converted bikes for fear of being accused of breaking something, so the same applies - make sure you'll be able to return the bike to its non-motorised state.

[Lance Dopestrong]

What law says that, please?

https://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-libr ... egulations

Most specifically, You should also be aware that the Department of Transport says that electric bikes limited to 25kph but fitted with off-road switches or modes that, when triggered, enable a bike’s motor to continue assisting to speeds beyond 25kph, do not comply with UK e-bike law.

That's "readily adaptable" in legal parlance.

That seems like saying certain vintage bikes weren't legal pedal cycles because their makers (including Raleigh and Schwinn IIRC) offerred petrol engines you could bolt on, which wasn't the case.

Not at all. There's a significant material difference and legal difference between being readily adaptable and wholesale addition of clamp on motors etc which are modicifactions.

[joeegg]

My wife has a fold up Wisper e bike.This came with the optional throttle which Wisper are allowed to sell in the UK.
The throttle only functions when she pedals so she can't freewheel and power the bike on.