CEN Standard for e-Bikes Almost Finalized

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Today the members of the Technical Committee TC333 for bicycles are discussing at the Brussels office of the CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, an almost final draft of the new safety standard for e-Bikes. It’s the EN 15194 for EPACs; Electrically Power Assisted Cycles.

After this meeting, a second public inquiry will start at CEN committee’s in 30 countries. It is expected that early 2008 the new standard for e-Bikes will be accepted by the European Commission and come into effect.

The second public inquiry on the EN15194 for EPAC’s follows a first one that got lots of comments. It resulted in the finalization of requirements and test methods and the draft that is now being discussed. This draft contains the scope of the standard EN 15194 which are:

• EPACs up to a voltage of 48 DC.
• Maximum continuous rated power of 250 W.
• Output progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h. 
• The new standard confirms with the EU Safety Directive 2002/24.

Once the new EPAC Safety Standards is published in the Official Journal of the European Union, it will give it the ‘presumption of conformity’ with the EU Safety Directive that: “Lays down an obligation on producers to place only safe products on the market.” To be more specific on ‘market’; EN 15194 is for the 25 EU members plus Rumania, and four Efta countries.

The Technical Committee TC333 is next to the Safety Standard for e-Bikes also working on EN 15496 for cycle locks; on EN 15532 for cycle terminology while new projects are bicycle trailers and BMX bikes. 

Currently there are five different CEN standards into force; EN 14764 for City and Trekking bicycles; EN 14765 Bicycles for young children; EN 14766 for Mountain bicycles; EN 14781 for Racing bicycles and EN 14872 for Accessories for bicycles – Luggage carriers.

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