Increase in seizures of illegal ebikes

[Drago]

exactly what I have read about

but very small groups so deployed to an area when the pressure to "do something" gets too high then the go somewhere else

Indeed. Displacement is the term.

 

[Drago]

so if for example you have one that cuts out at 15.9mph would that be OK

Strictly speaking no. There ks a mijor tolerance, but that's for manufacturers not users.

As you've likely guessed, the legislation is an abortion, rushed with little consideration as to practical enforcement amd there is, as yet, no Home Office approved test for measuring. Bobbies have the legal power to test...but there is no test, and vobbies who arent qualified vehicle examiners carry little weight as witnesses anyway.

Forces have to use whatever resources they have, pretty much makemit up as they go along, and hope it sticks in court - its very easy to challenge, and those that stump up for a solicitor to defend them usually win unless its an absolutely fragrant breach.

Without an approved and easy universal testing regime its very much "suck it and see" each time it goes before a court, and because its heard in Magistrates none of the outcomes either way make case-law and can't be cited to guide other court rulings in the future.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Another thing the article mentioned as high risk was home kits. Now, I originally thought of them as kind of inoffensive person-in-a-shed things, probably with Swytch in mind, or relatively sensible people on here discussing them. But the article raises them as a big risk as they are a way to put excess power through a pushbike and propel it at speeds that just isn't designed for.

And, as someone ( @Drago ? ) pointed out somewhere on here recently, they are by default not legal because a person-in-a-shed can't certify compliance.

 

[Drago]

Indeed. Even sensible kits with the 15.5 cut off and 250 wattsys can never be technically legal, as the person fitting legally becomes the manufacturer and has no reasonable means of certifying compliance to a legal standard.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

My GT Bolt isn't chipped, but I fitted a 45mm Caracal Race to the rear wheel back around Feb, mainly for extra comfort and decreased rolling resistance mainly riding on lanes. Because the gravel ebike came with 40mm Nanos and the replacment rear tyre has a larger diameter and circumference, the motor cutoff has been raised a bit to just over 16mph (the amount of assist tapers from ~2mph below what the sensor think it is, but the sensor is fooled by the larger circumference).

From what I gather, there isn't a similar advisory (not legal) speed leaway like there are with motor vehicle speed limits, such as you can go up to ~35mph in a 30mph and usually not be pulled over or get a camera speed fine.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Strictly speaking no. There ks a mijor tolerance, but that's for manufacturers not users.

As you've likely guessed, the legislation is an abortion, rushed with little consideration as to practical enforcement amd there is, as yet, no Home Office approved test for measuring. Bobbies have the legal power to test...but there is no test, and vobbies who arent qualified vehicle examiners carry little weight as witnesses anyway.

Forces have to use whatever resources they have, pretty much makemit up as they go along, and hope it sticks in court - its very easy to challenge, and those that stump up for a solicitor to defend them usually win unless its an absolutely fragrant breach.

Without an approved and easy universal testing regime its very much "suck it and see" each time it goes before a court, and because its heard in Magistrates none of the outcomes either way make case-law and can't be cited to guide other court rulings in the future.

Thats is what I seem to have seen from the tests that make sense

basically if they can find a throttle then it is likely to be illegal and they can work on that assumption
the chances of it haveing the correct certificate or being a pre 201 type still working
are remote
and certainly if it has the DVLA certification the the rider will probably tell them immediately

and if they can hold the back wheel up and thr throttle takes the thing to 30-40 mph
then it is illegal on 2 counts
and - yes that is with zero load - but my "walk assist" gets to 2 mph (sometimes 3) under zero load
so 30-40 is certainly dodgy

although I saw a video from London yesterday that said one guy they stopped got away with an obviously dodgy kit built machine because he managed to switch it off before they got hold of it
and they couldn;t switch it back on as they had to test it as found

which is another weakness in the whole thing


but lets not ask them to review (reform???) the legislation because only the Gods know what sort of mess they would make of it!!!

 

[classic33]

Thats is what I seem to have seen from the tests that make sense

basically if they can find a throttle then it is likely to be illegal and they can work on that assumption
the chances of it haveing the correct certificate or being a pre 201 type still working
are remote
and certainly if it has the DVLA certification the the rider will probably tell them immediately

and if they can hold the back wheel up and thr throttle takes the thing to 30-40 mph
then it is illegal on 2 counts
and - yes that is with zero load - but my "walk assist" gets to 2 mph (sometimes 3) under zero load
so 30-40 is certainly dodgy

although I saw a video from London yesterday that said one guy they stopped got away with an obviously dodgy kit built machine because he managed to switch it off before they got hold of it
and they couldn;t switch it back on as they had to test it as found

which is another weakness in the whole thing


but lets not ask them to review (reform???) the legislation because only the Gods know what sort of mess they would make of it!!!

The problem is the mindset of those using cycles that fall outside the regulations.
We'd fewer electric assisted pedal cycles in use prior to the newer regulations coming in in 2016.
When the regulations were standardised across Europe, they introduced two separate levels of electric assist. The UK decided to recognise only the lower class as an e-assist pedal cycle. The second, more powerful class was designated as requiring the same as any other vehicle of its class to be legal on UK roads. People have looked at what's available abroad, maybe even used them abroad, and decided that they want the same. Ignoring the minor fact that there's legal requirements to be met, in order to use one legally. This bit they don't like, but it remains illegal to use.

Would we be willing to put up with the same excuses, and behaviour, if the vehicle in question was a motor(internal combustion engine) vehicle. I doubt we'd be willing to put up with cars routinely taking to the pavements because the driver felt they should be allowed.
And I'm hearing similar moans from owners/drivers of electric cars over their ICE counterparts. That their choice of vehicle should be excluded from the regulations, simply because it's electric.

 

[Webbo2]

I suspect the mind set of those using these illegal ebikes is that they are easier to get hold off than Motor bikes so thats why they are getting used.