eBikes are illegal

[classic33]

If you have an EU classified pedal assist bike can you ride it over here (and vice versa), or not? The whole point of harmonising the classifications was to make them equivalent and valid both sides of the channel.

My point was if you had an EU bike with an EU "plate" it would still be valid over here. Or am I missing something?

You're missing something.

Most of Europe has two separate classifications of ebikes, which includes those that can go up to 28mph, and a 1,000 watt motor.
They* are all classed as pedal assisted electric bikes.
The UK regulations don't recognise the faster, more powerful assistance motors.
They* are classed as electric assisted pedal cycles.

If you've one of the class one type ebikes, they are legal under the regulations in Europe. It's the fact that there's two classes in most of Europe, not all, that are recognised under the regulations that gets to most people. If they accepted that, type approval, MVSA aside, that the second class(faster, more powerful motor and throttle) are legally mopeds in the UK there'd be less "confusion". They see it available in Europe, they demand it be legal here. The law doesn't work that way.

*Class one and two in most European countries. Class one in the UK and those countries that don't recognise the second class as other than mopeds.

 

[Dadam]

@classic33 I think we're talking at cross purposes. I'm only talking about "class 1" ebikes. I am aware of the faster ones of course, and I know we don't have the same class over here but none of that is relevant to the point I'm making.

Restricting to the "class 1" bikes, can you ride one from the EU legally over here under the same legal class as a UK EAPC, yes or no?

If yes, then a sticker/plate that is legal in the EU is also applicable over here, by definition.

 

[classic33]

@classic33 I think we're talking at cross purposes. I'm only talking about "class 1" ebikes. I am aware of the faster ones of course, and I know we don't have the same class over here but none of that is relevant to the point I'm making.

Restricting to the "class 1" bikes, can you ride one from the EU legally over here under the same legal class as a UK EAPC, yes or no?

If yes, then a sticker/plate that is legal in the EU is also applicable over here, by definition.

The class one you ride in Europe, you can legally ride over here. That was the major factor in getting the requirements, motor size/power, cut-off speed the same. France had at least different power assist levels prior to the change, depending on where you were.

The point with that EPAC plate is it applies to both classes, with no differentiation between the two classes, where they exist.