E-bikes powered exclusively by a generator are considered technically innovative, but until now, they have been difficult to classify legally. This is going to change with the publication of the German standard DIN 31067. Though limited to Germany only, it may apply elsewhere in the EU if adopted or referenced.
The European bicycle industry is one year into the General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) set by the European Union, and a recent spate of recalls has raised the question, are these just a series of isolated quality lapses, or part of the broader impact of the GPSR?
The requirement for replaceable cells in e-bike batteries suddenly became a hot topic in 2023, and the European Commission recently added a new chapter to the discussion. The Batteries Regulation, which entered into force in August 2023, made it mandatory to offer the ability to replace individual battery cells for e-bikes in future. This requirement has been removed in the latest amendment from the European Commission. European Cycling Industries (ECI) welcomes this change, but not everyone is happy.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - 19 environmental NGOs, consumer organisations, and tourism and mobility businesses have written a joint letter to urge the European Commission to harmonise charging systems for electric bicycles and other light means of transport (LMT). "The lack of standardisation of charging connectors is needlessly slowing Europe's green transformation," the group supported by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) writes.
AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The e-bike is evolving rapidly and new user groups are entering the market, writes editor-in-chief Jan-Willem van Schaik in his editorial. "The question is whether the e-bike can keep the same classification and will continue to be seen as a bicycle. The classification as a bicycle has important legal implications."
BERLIN, Germany - The growing importance of cycling in the mobility mix brings new challenges to the industry. Consumer expectations and product requirements are shifting quickly and will continue to change in the years ahead. The 'user of tomorrow' was the key topic at a recent ZIV Technology Conference. What does this mean for construction, safety, and design? How is the industry meeting these demands with technological innovation?
