Motorized bicycle - Misplaced Pages

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A motorized bicycle is a bicycle with an attached motor. Motorized bicycles include electric bicycles, mopeds and other types of bicycles.

History

People have been adding motors to bikes for over a hundred years. A bicycle with a small motor added used to be known as an "autocycle" or "cyclemotor". They eventually evolved into "mopeds", which are not strictly bicycles because they were never designed to be pedalled, although pedals were fitted to comply with regulations and to aid in starting. A modern electric bicycle is more true to the original concept of a pedal bicycle with assisted propulsion.

Legal status as a vehicle

Motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles are all considered vehicles. They are subject to the same rules of street traffic that also apply to automobiles and other vehicles.

Electric Bicycles

A electric bicycle is a bicycle that is fitted with an electric motor. Electric bicycles are often powered by rechargeable batteries. Some experimental electric bicycles can charge their batteries via solar panels. Others have been able to recharge or run directly on fuel cells, gas generators or other alternative energy sources. Some experimenters have even used super capacitors to store energy. Using an on-board generator may impact the legal juristictional definition of an electric bicycle. A few types of electric bicycles are able to re-capture energy from braking and can re-charge the batteries while braking or travelling down hills (regenerative braking). With the advent of newer technology further features can be expected.

Some electric bikes have features where the motor can move the bicycle by itself if the rider chooses not to pedal, while others require the rider to pedal at all times.

Differing names and classifications

Names for electric bicycles

Electric bicycles are known by several different names:

Power Assisted Bicycle (PAB) is the term used in Canada.
Motor assisted bicycle (MOPED) is the term used in Ontario
Power-assisted cycle is used in the United Kingdom.
ebike (E-Bike) is a trademark.

What electric bicycles are not

motorcycles
scooters
limited-speed-motorcycles
"nopeds"
"go-peds"
mopeds (except in California and Ontario where they are classified as mopeds)
pocket-bikes

See .

Types of electric bikes

Electric bikes can be broken into two groups: power-on-demand, where the motor is activated by a handlebar mounted throttle, and pedelec, those where the electric motor is regulated by pedalling. Both are permitted in North America. Both types are considered Power Assisted Bicycles in Canada, as long as the motor is no more then 500 Watts (W) and the assisted speed is no greater than 32 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Since electric bicycles are primarily bicycles with a small auxillary motor, they have more in common with their ancestors the autocycle and cyclemotor than with later mopeds and motorcycles. They differ from autocycles and cyclemotors in that their motors are electric rather than gas-powered.

Laws in Canada

Since 2001, Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR) have defined power-assisted bicycles (PABs) as electric bicycles propelled by either a combination of the cyclist and a motor or by the motor alone.

The Canada Gazette clarifies that a motorcycle is not a power-assisted bicycle, and goes on to define limits on the weight, dimensions, speed, electric wattage output, and other properties of a power-assisted bicycle. Power-assisted-bicycles are limited to electric motors of 500W output and maximum speeds of 32km/h.

This vehicle can be imported and exported freely within Canada without the same restrictions placed on an automobile or a moped, although electric bicycles are not allowed in a few jurisdictions. In federal law, a moped is considered a "limited speed motorcycle", and is therefore not a PAB.

Laws in Ontario

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA) does not currently define a power-assisted bicycle. The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) defines a power-assisted bicycle and states that it cannot be legally operated on the road in Ontario, because it does not meet safety standards. However, in some cases it is possible to register a PAB as a moped, making it legal for on-road use.

There are a number of legal considerations for operating any bicycle in Ontario.

PABs as mopeds

It is possible to drive certain types of PABs on road in Ontario, as long as they are legally registered as mopeds. This is because in Ontario the closest definition for a PAB is that of a moped (called a "motor-assisted bicycle" in the HTA). In Ontario, mopeds require registration, plating, and insurance. They are not required to show a safety certicicate of inspection for registration. Although the MTO does not normally allow registration of PABs as mopeds, a few electric bicycle owners in Ontario have managed to register their electric bicycles as as mopeds.

Conflict between Ontario law and Canada law

Ontario is the last province in Canada to move toward legalizing PABs for use on roads, even though they have been federally defined and completely legal in Canada since early 2001.

Laws in Quebec

In Quebec and British Columbia, power-assisted bicycles are often classified similarly to standard pedal bicycles. They do not have to meet the conditions defined within the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (they are not classed as "motor vehicles"), but they do have to comply with federal regulations that define Power Assisted Bicycles.

The Quebec Highway Safety Code defines a power-assisted bicycle as a bicycle with an electric motor. PABs are permitted on the road in the province of Quebec.

Laws in the United States

The United States Department of Transportation has defined an electric bicycle as any bicycle or tricycle with an electric motor not exceeding 750W of power and bike weight under 100 pounds, with a top motor-powered speed not in excess of 20 miles per hour. Although they are allowed in the US, and recognized by most states, electric bicycles have been banned in a few jurisdictions. In New York City, electric motor assisted bicycles are not permitted for on-road use.

European Union Laws

Electrically-assisted cycles are usually classified as either pedelecs or e-bikes. Under European Union regulations adopted in the UK in June 2003, only power-assisted cycles meeting the pedelec classification are considered to be pedal cycles; e-bikes are now treated as motorcycles and require a license.

To meet the pedelec specification the electric motor must be activated by the rider's pedalling effort and the power must cut out completely whenever the rider stops pedalling. Control of the motor by pedalling is often the key difference between a pedelec and and e-bike.

Pedelecs must also have a powered-assisted maximum speed limited to 25 km/h. Earlier UK regulations also require that the motor has an average power output limited to 200 W (250 W for an tricycles and tandems) and weight limited to 40 kg (60 kg for tricycles and tandems).

For models sold before June 2003, e-bikes conforming to the speed, weight and power limits may also be considered pedal cycles.