• HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgOP
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    6 days ago

    From the interview:

    The whole industry is worried, but it’s not about one company. With motors like these, we are moving further and further away from bicycles, and as an industry, we risk e-bikes being regulated by the EU. So far, e-bikes have been treated the same as bicycles in the EU. And we as the ZIV want to protect this status. To achieve this, we need to clarify the gray areas in regulation that define what is and what is not a bicycle. And two values are important here: performance and the ratio between rider power and motor power.

    In this respect, DJI achieves values with the Avinox motor with 1000 watts and 800 percent muscle gain that did not exist before.

    As I said, it’s not just about one specific brand. It’s about everyone pushing the performance values upwards. And the EU could look at this and ask: What are you actually doing here with your Newton meter power assistance factor race? Unlike the e-bike, the S-pedelec with a cut-off speed of 45 km/h is considered a moped in the L1 class and is subject to type approval. The type approval defines the assistance factor 4 for the S-pedelec.

    And now the e-bike manufacturers are launching e-bikes that do not require type approval with a factor of 8 on the market.

    Note that there is some confusing terminology: “eBike” as a common (but wrong) term means a bicycle with assistance electric power which is limited to 25 km/h in speed. The proper term for this is “Pedelec”. In difference to this, “S-Pedelec” means a light motorcycle which in Germany can go with up to 45 km/h, needs insurance, license plate, strict technical certification, helmet - and cannot, of course, use bicycle paths and cycle lanes.

    • Successful_Try543@feddit.org
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      5 days ago

      > and cannot, of course, use bicycle paths and cycle lanes.

      In town, but outside it’s allowed unless is explicitly forbidden.

      • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgOP
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        5 days ago

        In Germany, that’s not the case. What’s frequently allowed outside villages (but need explicit permission!) are mofas which are gas-powered vehicles which have a max speed of 25 km/h. The Netherlands are more permissive here but they do have far, far better cycleways.

        • lime!@feddit.nu
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          5 days ago

          is “mofa” short for “Motor-Fahrrad”? i’ve seen the term a few times in the past few days but never before that. in that case they are what i would know as a “klass II moped”, but here that category also includes pedelecs.

          love the pseudo-homologated rules for eu motor vehicles.

          • Successful_Try543@feddit.org
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            5 days ago

            Yes. But unlike in Sweden, where “klass II mopeds” don’t need an insurance nor a drivig permit , in Germany they do in general (‘mofa test certificate’, “Mofa-Prüfbescheinigung”, i.e. you need to take 6×90 minutes theory lessons and a 90 minute driving lesson and pass a theoretical test, not a practical test like for a usual driving licence/permit). Only normal pedelecs (those with 25 km/h limit, not s-pedelecs) are exempt and are treated as usual bikes and thus, don’t need any insurance nor driving permit.

            Like in Sweden, S-pedelecs in Germany are treated equal to Mopeds (klass I moped) and thus, require the AM drivers licence and an insurance.

        • Successful_Try543@feddit.org
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          5 days ago

          Sorry, I’ve misunderstood.

          Yet, there may be bike lanes, especially fast tracks, where S-pedelecs are explicitly allowed.

          S-Pedelecs frei

          https://wattmoves.de/s-pedelecs-endlich-auf-radwegen-hier-ist-es-erlaubt/213234/

          AfaIk, Mofas don’t need explicit permission on bike lanes out of town (§ 2 Abs. 4 StVO), but are explicitly prohibited sometimes *“keine Mofas”.

          keine Mofas

          In town, the use of bike lanes with Mofas or pedelecs “E-Bikes” may be permitted if explicitly stated with an extra sign.

          Mofas und E-Bikes frei

          • brot@feddit.org
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            5 days ago

            Which is actually a really crap regulation as each city has to check all of their bicycle paths and allow S-Pedelecs. Which means that there are many cities which are simply not doing that.

            • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgOP
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              5 days ago

              Many/most urban city paths in Germany are already too crowded for S-Pedelecs which go at 45 km/h.

              For example, you would need to be able to safely overtake a slower bicycle which on most German bike lanes is not safely possible. And of course, it is a different thing for Netherlands bike infrastructure - but you also have much denser bike traffic there.

              • brot@feddit.org
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                5 days ago

                The problem here is, that at least in Germany S-Pedelecs are not allowed on bicycle paths at all. Which makes city driving a nightmare and is also preventing S-Pedelecs on many other paths. Around here there are many paths through nature reserves and woodland, where it totally makes sense that motorcycles are banned, but since S-Pedelecs fall into that category, you are screwed.

                A regulation like “feel free to drive there, but do not even think about going faster than 25km/h” could work.

            • Successful_Try543@feddit.org
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              5 days ago

              The regulation is more ar less only intended for high speed tracks ("Radschnellwege") where it is sometimes suitable to allow 45 km/h fast bikes or bike streets (“Fahrradstraßen”) where the s-pelelecs then would have to obey to the 30 km/h limit, not for each and every small narrow bike lane.