Electric Bikes – 10 Questions

17 Responses to “Electric Bikes – 10 Questions”

1. Craig B Says:
   June 20th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

   According to the NSW RTA, “In NSW, any device with a motor must be registered for use on a road or road related area unless it is specifically exempt”. The good news is that power assisted bicycles are specifically exempt from registration and licenses. The bad news is that not all electric bikes qualify.

   There has been a long-standing classification of pedal-assisted motorbikes (also called mopeds) in Australia, and these do need to be registered. As a general guide, if a bike looks like a bicycle with a motor attached (that is less than 200watts) then it is a power-assisted bicycle. If a bike looks like a motorbike/motor scooter with pedals then it is a pedal assisted motorbike (regardless of power).

   There has been some publicity of the RTA advising people that their bike was ok to ride but then those people being stopped and fined. I suspect that there may have been some misrepresentation and a little ignorance of the fine line between the two types of vehicle. In any case, bad advice from the RTA (verbal or written) will not stop you from being prosecuted if you are on a pedal assisted motor bike.

   Have a look at these references:

   1. RTA Advice on Motorised Scooters, Mini bikes and Other Motorised devices. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/otherinformation/scootersminibikes.html?rlid=6

   2. Australian Vehicle Standards
   http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_27_-_mopeds_and_motor_assisted_pedal_cycles_nov_2007.pdf

   3. Recent RTA Clarification On the Topic
   http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/2008_05_motoriseddevices.html

   4. News Article About People Prosecuted Despite RTA Advice
   http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/when-is-a-bike-not-a-bike-when-its-electric/2008/06/15/1213468240544.html

2. Craig B Says:
   June 20th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

   One more thing. Your house and contents insurance policy will have a personal liabiltiy component that covers you when you are riding a bike. You need to check the wording of your policy. Some will not cover you if your bike has a motor. None will cover you if your bike should be registered but isn’t.

3. Andrew Says:
   June 20th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

   So the big difference is “power-assisted” against “pedal-assisted”, and this determines if they need to be registered?
   Do many of the pedal-assisted models come with compliance plates that would allow them to be registered?

4. Craig B Says:
   June 20th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

   The difference is that one is a bicycle and one is a motorbike.

   The thing is that the importers have been importing them without compliance plates and passing them off as bicycles.

   I have never seen a pedal assisted motor-bike on the road but they use to be popular (decades ago). There are some photos on the web though as they were still being made in the 80s:
   From Moto Guzzi:
   http://www.mopedarmy.com/photos/brand/137/3976/

   and from Honda:
   http://www.mopedarmy.com/photos/brand/22/1659/

5. Craig B Says:
   June 20th, 2008 at 10:34 pm

   Sorry, my last post got lost somewhere.

   The big difference is that one is a motorbike (what the standards call a moped) and one is a bicycle. I have heard of a number of tests to tell the difference:

   1. The judge in the above example considered what the main source of power was – and what was the assist power.
   2. I have heard that if the pedals can be removed then it is not a bicycle.
   3. One of the links above claims that if it has not been designed as a bicycle then it is not a bicycle.
   4. One of the links implies and I have heard that if the motor is not an attachment then it is not a bicycle.
   5. If the power of the motor is > 200 watts then it is not a bicycle.
   6. I have heard that if the bike has foot rests then it is not a bicycle.

   IMHO, you can tell whether it is a bicycle or not just by looking at it – everybody knows what is a bicycle and what isn’t. (Also look up “Honda Hobbit” in Google Images.)

6. Craig B Says:
   June 23rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm

   All of the above may change. The NSW RTA has made a submission on changing the law, it is on the BFA web site at: Power_assisted_bikes_NSW_RTA_paper_2008.pdf

7. shayne Says:
   June 24th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

   After reading the paper, I still find the process will still have issues. Firstly a power-to-weight ratio is a more suitable measurement, as the RTA themselves have imposed on young drivers in both motorcars and motorcycles. Additionally, what studies have been conducted to determine the suitable power-to-weight (or if they must, wattage) rating suitable for Australian conditions?

   I personally don’t understand the issue of ‘throttle’ control – being able to control your speed (within the limitations imposed) would seem to me important.

   Why take three years to simply ‘clarify’ what is currently already legislated?

8. ebikehub Says:
   July 5th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

   for plenty of information regarding electric bicycles check out the electric bicycle forum

   http://www.ebikehub.com/forum/

9. Andrew Says:
   July 6th, 2008 at 9:02 am

   The ebikehub forum looks helpful, thanks for the link.

10. anne shearman Says:
    August 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    i have just read all the comments, and some are totally above my head with the technical language, but it was interesting anyway. My husband and i have owned an e-bike each for three years, and we really enjoyed riding them. We purchased them because we are consious of the environment, but then petrol became an issue, $1.80 pl in the country, then we were told they were illegal. It appears that they are not supposed to be able to be ridden without the motor, but my 13 yo granddaughter can ride them easily on the grass in our backyard.I agree with some of your writers, that it could be another grab for cash by government. Anyway we are not holding our breath that this will be sorted any time soon, we are nearly 70 and will probably be in an aged care facility by then

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    September 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm

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12. Elmo the Electric Bikes Guy Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 10:25 am

    Gas prices at this time in Lexington, KY are around $2.00 a gal. However, the oil companies hook us and then have us pay more for gas inn cycles. I don’t trust them and I will continue to ride my electric bike as much as possible.

    By the way, these are the most incredible bikes I have ever seen. Thanks for an incredible blog!

13. Gail Says:
    November 5th, 2008 at 7:57 am

    You’re very welcome!

14. harry Says:
    September 12th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    In terms of how to differenciate the E-bike or E-scooter, the Australian government DOTARD will have to follow the British law, which is what the Australian Design Regulation is based on. Simply whatever they are doing over in England, our rules and regulation on electric bike will follow.

15. Paul Says:
    September 12th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    Question10: You can alway get a Nope electric scooter instead of the dirty 4 stroke. They are around $3000, green and reliable. Most importantly it won’t cost you much to charge and maintain. It won’t be enough range for travelling more than 50km, but for around town and short trips, they are fantastic. If you want to go a step further, you can get a Vetrix Maxi, but cost a lot more and you can go on highway.

16. Amber Spink Says:
    September 12th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    I have an olive Nope Luxe III e-bike. I love it.

17. Chris Says:
    July 20th, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    i’ve found some electric bikes that are pretty reasonably priced… 2000 bucks.
    they actually look really good, and I’m taking one for a test ride this weekend to see how they go.
    They’re from the Gette electric bikes brand, only available in Australia I think.

    check ‘em out, http://www.gettebikes.com

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