Ebikes in China - possible speed and weight restriction

[sk8norcal]

On Dec 6th 2009, The Chinese government issued a planned crack-down on e-bikes. The major impact of this rule is on the e-bike's speed, weight and licensing requirements.

It basically states that as of January 1st, 2010, any e-bike which can reach over 20 km/h (12.4 mph) and weight more than 40kg (88 lbs) will be classified as a "motor-vehicle" similar to motorcycles and cars. They will now require license, registration and insurance. The plan is vague and many are confused on how it will impact their lifestyle.

http://www.juicedriders.com/blog/2009/12/16/debate-heating-up-over-e-bikes-in-china.html

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[dogman dan]

No doubt, somebody pointed out a huge population going untaxed. Probobally coming to the west too eventually. Can't have people riding without pedaling without paying.

 

[Evoforce]

From what I heard though, there was so much public outcry, because the government was impounding e-bikes and writing tickets for those that didn't comply with the old rules newly being enforced, the government had to cave in to the pressure and are reversing their action pending further review.

 

[Lock]

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/legal-threat-to-chinas-electric-bikes-postponed-24440
Thu 24 Dec 2009, 9:00 am GMT
Legal threat to China's electric bikes postponed
By Richard Peace
China's electric bicycle manufacturers can breathe a (perhaps short-lived) sigh of relief after the postponement of a proposed new law restricting the legality of e-bikes.

The new rules, proposed by the country's Standardization Administration (SAC), were set to take effect at the start of 2010, but have been put on hold following opposition from the industry and electric bike riders.

more in the link

tks
locK

 

[dogman dan]

No government lets things go untaxed forever. They just needed to do it more gradual, like the death of a thousand cuts.

 

[auraslip]

Everyone in shanghai is ride ebike!

 

[swbluto]

Cool, even more evidence of democratic mechanisms inside China.

 

[Lessss]

Yeah those mechanisms were essentially a mob of ebike owners and an ebike manufacturer storming down to the impound lot, breaking in threatening the police and walking off with the impounded bikes.

 

[sk8norcal]

Cool, even more evidence of democratic mechanisms inside China.

well, sort of...
considering the goverment can ban gas scooters without much resistence,
so the public is left with lower performing electric scooters,
now the government wants to lower the performance even more...
of course, people don't want go backward to traveling at bicycle speed..


from looking at these videos,
their separate bicycle lane road design completely sucks!
works for low speed only,
once you throw in fast moving gas or electric scooters, things get sketchy quickly...

 

[ebent]

Like the Beatles in the song tax man

If you walk they'll tax your feet, and if it's cold they'll tax the heat......

 

[sk8norcal]

some consipiracy theory ...

http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2009-12/491204_3.html

Manufacturers unhappy

Electric-bicycle companies across China haven't been quiet about their resentment over the new standards, believing they are a move by the motorcycle industry to strangle the electric-bicycle industry.

"The regulations will deprive the electric-bicycle industry of the chance for innovation and further growth," Lu Jinlong, vice director of the China Bicycle Association, told the Southern Weekend Thursday.

Ding Yunfei, executive of the Chengdu Yishunli Motorbike Co., told the Global Times Thursday that the standard will force his company to lay off hundreds of workers and go bankrupt.

Western China areas are hilly and the local conditions require faster speeds and more weight, he said.

Hong Min, sales manager of the Hangzhou Yongli Motorcycle Co., agreed with Ding, saying the standard reflects the motorcycle industry's goal of consuming the electric-bicycle industry. His company's main business is electric bicycles.

Electric bikes have been eating away at the market for traditional gas-powered-motorcycles, which have been banned in many cities for years.

No timetable has been announced for the issuance of new licenses for electric bicycles deemed motorcycles.

"The standard can't fully reflect the voices of bicycle companies and the general public," Hong said, questioning how the draft was formulated.

"The worst result is that we have to give up our bicycle business," he said, declining to unveil likely economic losses.

There are 2,394 electric-bicycle makers in China, among which more than 100 are motorcycle makers. If the new regulations take effect, many electric-bicycle manufacturers must convert to motorcycle businesses.

Under Chinese law, motorcycle manufacturers need a total investment of 200 million yuan and registered capital of 80 million yuan.

As a result, more than 2,000 electric-bicycle enterprises are expected to become "black" manufacturers and be forced out of the market.

 

[sk8norcal]

The new rule also means that US President Barack Obama won't be able to ride his new Flying Pigeon electric bicycle in China. The bike, given as a gift by the state science and technology authorities during his visit to China last month, is one of the 11 types of electric bikes said by the Beijing Consumers' Association to exceed the speed and weight standard, according to the association's report on 28 sample bikes.

http://www.flying-pigeon.cn/

 

[liveforphysics]

Traditionally, a governments job has been to take good things and ruin them. Create policy to maximize the divide between rich and poor, then saddle the rich to carry the poor around in their backs.

It appears that ebikes were working too well as transportation. No government can have that happening.

 

[sk8norcal]

some interesting info here regarding LPG mopeds..and regulations in china...

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/30/content_395890.htm

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/shanghai-lpg-scooters-t102757.html

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/questions-about-electric-scooters-t65739.html

====

edit:

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbforum/electric-licence-q-a-t99418.html

All forms of transport in Shanghai require a licence. Bicycles, Electric Bikes, Mopeds / Scooters, Cars etc. Riding without one is not recommended, as this can lead to fines, deportation, and jail in worst case scenario's.

Electric Bikes/ Scooters are not exempt from requiring a licence, despite what the nice man at the shop selling you the bike, or others on this forum might say.

To be street legal in Shanghai, you need a plate.

1) Only bikes purchased in Shanghai can get a Shanghai plate.
Keep your official receipt (fapiao) when you buy the bike, as it needs to be used to get your licence.

2) As of a law passed in April 2008, Shanghai Electric bikes have to be:

* Under 40kg.

* Not capable of speeds faster than 20km/hr.
Effectively this means only bikes < 36v.

* Listed in the allowed vehicle database for Shanghai.
Legal bikes have a 15 digit unicode (like a car VIN) which is unique. Manufacturers have to apply for a production licence for this, and not all have done so.
A list of licenced manufacturers is available here:
http://www.shbicycle.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=6230

If you own a bike that is older than that date that does not conform to the above, and you had a legal licence at that time, then it can be renewed each year, and its still legal.

3) To licence an electric bike/scooter/moped you need to visit the police station for your district.

You will need to bring:

* - The fapiao for the bike
* - Valid form of ID (Passport for foreigners)
* - The bike
* - Money to pay for the licence (11rmb currently)

 

[auraslip]

I wouldn't mind paying for insurance, registration, and license. Provided the insurance was cheap. Lots of danger of getting pulled over and harassed by the police. Also of getting in an accident and not having the insurance company cover anything.

My biggest fear with ebikes is that the us government, at the behest of traditional transportation companies (G.M.), will crack down hard on DIY electric vehicles. In ten years when 5kwh battery system costs a grand (I hope!) and fits on a normal bike (I hope!) it would be cost effective for every 16 year older to make a FAST ebike rather than buy a car or a ice motorcycle.

All they have to do is strictly enforce the current federal definition of an ebike (80lb weight/20mph limit), and leave no room for registering anything faster. Boom, the only way to get an emotorcycle is to buy one. Game over for us

Anyone have a picture of obama on an ebike?

 

[Lock]

Anyone have a picture of obama on an ebike?

Close:

WASHINGTON, US - China’s Science and Technology Minister, Wan Gang (right) has presented two e-Bikes as a state present to US President Barack Obama and his Minister Steven Chu (left) of the US Department of Energy.

LocK