Insurance

[Nick Jones]

Looking at getting type approval and registering my 500w trike. Looking for a company that can provide 3rd party insurance, UK

 

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You can try the ABI Home | ABI but 6 months or so back they were no help and have no participating members offering cover for diy builds as of about 6 months ago.. If an off the shelf machine perhaps the supplier has negotiated a deal with an insurer?

 

[Az.]

What insurance are you looking for? As far as I know there is no available insurance for speed pedelecs on the market.

My advice is to replace 500W motor with legal 250W. Then you will be able to insure it as EAPC.

 

[Nick Jones]

Thanks Az. I’m looking for 3rd party insurance once I have type approved it as a moped or motorcycle. I’m paraplegic and therefore need the 500w and throttle to be able to use the trike.

 

[Az.]

Thanks Az. I’m looking for 3rd party insurance once I have type approved it as a moped or motorcycle. I’m paraplegic and therefore need the 500w and throttle to be able to use the trike.

I am sorry Nick, but to my knowledge there is no third party insurance available at this moment. I see it as petrol lobby sabotage.

As mentioned above I suggest to change class of your trike to EAPC. You can still have very powerful motor and full throttle, but motor must be rated as 250W. EAPC insurance is cheap and easy to find.

IMO best place to buy powerful legal motor in UK is Woosh,

You can open a thread here for response targeted to UK market:

Pedelecs - Electric Bike Community

The UK electric bike community

www.pedelecs.co.uk

 

[Nick Jones]

Thanks again Az. I’ll post if I have any luck with insurers. I’ll also have a look at Woosh, but wouldn’t it still be illegal to have a full throttle as opposed to walk assist?

 

[Az.]

Thanks again Az. I’ll post if I have any luck with insurers. I’ll also have a look at Woosh, but wouldn’t it still be illegal to have a full throttle as opposed to walk assist?

No, you can have legal throttle. You would need to go through single vehicle approval. Wisper and Pedibal sell e-bikes with full throttle. If they can do it, so can you.

Full Throttle Option

Full Throttle eBikes add excitement to your rides. With a top speed of 15.5mph without pedalling, zip around town or trails effortlessly.

wisperbikes.com

As an added bonus you could use your trike on shared paths etc.

 

[Nick Jones]

Brilliant, you’re a star, looks like I might be on track! Someone else said the same about DVSA and full throttle.
How do you think the power would compare between a Woosh 250w and my Bafang 500w front hub?
I’m more interested in climbing ability and hill starts than top speed.

 

[Az.]

Brilliant, you’re a star, looks like I might be on track! Someone else said the same about DVSA and full throttle.
How do you think the power would compare between a Woosh 250w and my Bafang 500w front hub?
I’m more interested in climbing ability and hill starts than top speed.

It depends on what motor you choose and what controller. Keep in mind that power is not restricted by law at all. Motors continuous rated power is. So as long as motor is rated 250W you can pump even 1000W through (assuming motor will be able to endure it).
You will still need to keep speed restricted to 15.5mph though.

My controller is set to 16A and battery is 48V. At fully charged battery it means nearly 900W of input power. I can set controller to give more amps, but there is no need for that. Motor is rated as 250W. You can have legally all power you need quite easily. Throttle is bigger problem as approval is required.

Best to ask Andy from Woosh or on forum I linked above. Hub motors are not my area of expertise.

 

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+1 to the above.. will say hi if you drop in at pedelec.co.uk too..