I’m a long term daily user of a mid tail Cargo e-bike in a hilly city, and I support the government’s proposals to permit 500watt e-bike motors. 

In the consultation the Govt has set out a clear and specific rationale for exploring how more powerful e-bikes can contribute to the pressing need to facilitate more Active, less vehicle reliant travel and transport behaviour, thus improving the nation's health, reducing transport costs and emissions, cutting congestion and making local areas more attractive places in which to live and work. This is a good thing.

There have been some alarmist reactions to the proposals, doubtless understandably driven by recent incidents involving illegally powerful and fast electrically powered bikes (legally classed as Mopeds, not bicycles) and of serious and even tragic battery fires which investigations have associated with the use of poor quality imported batteries and chargers which don’t conform with UK safety regulations. 

Concerns include: 

POWER: Here it should be noted that some of the more sophisticated (and expensive) current 250W Mid motors kick out up to 600W briefly, by design and legally, to suit applications like load carrying. This is much more than the equivalent 250W wheel mounted Hub motor, which is often the much cheaper option the legally compliant ‘last mile’ delivery operators and ‘throttle only’ makers currently tend to choose over expensive Mid drive models. It is also not much less than the 500W Hub drives most likely to be used if permitted, or even the more affordable 500W mid drives that may be employed.

As a heavy rider who makes the most of my bike’s design capacity (e.g. a small car boot’s worth of shopping) I really appreciate this high ‘peak’ wattage capability and the safe acceleration it affords, for example when pulling away loaded, on a hill, from traffic lights, thus enabling me to negotiate my place neatly and safely in and around the traffic flow, to the benefit of all road users.

In fact my e-bike simply wouldn’t be the car replacement it has become without this level of ability.

The standard brakes fitted to my bike are well up to the job of stopping all that mass too.

THROTTLES: The UK already has ‘type approval’ legislation permitting a so-called ‘Twist and go’ or ‘Throttle only’ option, and at least one reputable UK manufacturer has taken advantage of this provision and can supply such an e-bike. Such a bike is still regulated to 15.5mph, so does it really matter how it gets there if it offers a more egalitarian choice to a wider audience?

BATTERIES: In the case of battery safety, size is not the issue, it is quality. Existing good quality 250W systems already have safe and reliable batteries of up to 800Wh or so capacity fitted, and in some cases a pair of these. 

The safety of Lithium based batteries is dependent on the quality of components and of manufacture, and on using the correct ‘matched’ charger for the system, rather than on battery size. 

What is needed is regulation and enforcement of the supply and sale of good quality, affordable batteries and chargers, which the industry and regulators now appear to be waking up to as this sector develops.

So all these things are already out there in plain sight, and for this discussion to be objective and useful it is essential to avoid any conflation of prospective, legally restricted 500W motors with those poorly built, unrestricted and illegal systems capable of producing in well excess of this and speeds far beyond the legally permitted 15.5mph, and the behaviour of those who purchase them.

PS I’m not hearing any moral panic about the massive and unnecessary increase in the power and acceleration of ‘everyday’ vehicles as they go electric….

@jimney

Re making 500W legal, what's the issue with not just creating an additional category for higher powered bikes.

the "issue" is that that is exactly what is not being proposed, the issue is precisely that they are proposing including 500W bikes under the same legislative umbrella as current EAPCs, which is to say, treat them as ordinary bicycles. That's like treating cars as pedal carts just because they use electricity instead of petrol.

The consultation paper talks about increasing "active travel"; be removing the need to pedal?

The paper talks about the meeting the needs of the disabled - because they can't pedal? The one change that might be justified there would be allowing a twist throttle to get the bike up to a speed where the cyclist can balance and steer, for those with difficulties setting off from rest.

But fondly imagining that 500W throttle activated motorcycles will be taken up in droves by the disabled rather than simply be used as scramblers by oiks tearing up the local community is naive beyond credibility.

The final plank of the consultation is to pander to the delivery operators, who would obviously love to have heavy-duty haulage escape the rigour of motor vehicle legislation and exploit the liberties of cycling regulations and infrastructure.

The simple fact is that once you are so far beyond the performance even of fit cyclists then no amount of wishful thinking makes it a bicycle. The law should not be made as ass of by its own creators.

@Bikebeer77

I share your concerns. Yoking whatever higher powered machines to bicycles inevitably moves the centre of gravity of the combined category. Eventually the calls to change the legislation to reflect the new status quo will be undeniable. If there is a need and a place for higher powered electrical vehicles then let them make their own case and stand on their own legislation.

Being cynical is this some "clever" MP or group proposing this so that eventually any sort of bike, acoustic or electric, will need road insurance and registration and registration plates.

If folk want a throttle operated electric moped I'm sure they are already on the market. 

I really do wonder who is behind this idea and exactly why.