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What are the relevant European regulations for bikes and e-bikes?

For bikes import in EU, we will have a general view of the staters.

Combined nomenclature (CN)
Community Customs Code (Council Regulation (EC) No 2913/92) has been launched in 1992, and that is valid for all the bicycles and relative accessories in EU and the other countries. To ensure the safety of the carriages, each product has been classified and given a code for identifying registered information on imports and exports and relating duties. Under this regulation, all bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles and most of their parts fall under the provisions of Chapter 87: "Vehicles other than railway or tramway vehicles and their parts and accessories."

Bicycles are divided into four different categories and parts into 17 code categories (please see table).

Import Duties on non-EU Bicycles & Components

E-bike regulations in EU

An e-bike, also called Pedelec in Europe, is a vehicle equipped with pedals and an auxiliary motor, in which the motor does not drive directly (unless in start assist mode) and the auxiliary motor only delivers power when pedaled by a human. According to the characteristics of e-bikes, products exported to the EU market need to meet the technical requirements of EU No. 168/2013 (EU two-wheeled, three-wheeled, or four-wheeled certification and market regulation) or EN 15194 (EU e-bike standard), and other applicable regulatory requirements, such as General Product Safety Directive, Machinery Directive, Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive, and the European Union (EU). RoHS Directive, Low Voltage Directive, Battery Directive, WEEE Directive, REACH Regulations, and battery shipping requirements.

Currently, Europeans would purchase about 2 million electric bikes every year, and this market still continues to expand as this product becomes more diverse. With the prosperity of electric vehicles in the European market, the EU region in recent years has continuously introduced a number of standards for electric vehicles for product safety, which also means raising the global electric-assist vehicles to enter the European market threshold. 2018 onwards, the EU also on China's exports of electric bicycles into the European market to implement high anti-dumping tariffs, up to 79.3% tariffs.

First of all, you will need to make the necessary certificate, "CE" marking(CE marking is a part of the EU’s harmonization legislation, which is mainly managed by the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs. The CE marking for Restriction of Hazardous Substances is managed by Directorate-General for Environment. Comprehensive guidance on the implementation of EU product rules can be found in the so-called Blue Guide.)

E-bikes for CE certification process

1. The manufacturer (hereinafter referred to as the applicant) submits an oral or written initial application to the testing agency.
2. The applicant fills in the application form and provides the application form and product manual to the testing organization.
3. Testing agencies to determine testing standards and test items and quotes.
4. The applicant confirms the offer, both parties sign the service contract and pay the certification fee.
5. The applicant sends samples and relevant technical documentation to the testing agency.
6. Laboratory testing of products and review of technical documents.
7. If the test fails or the technical documentation does not meet the requirements, the laboratory will notify the applicant in a timely manner.
8. The applicant improves or modifies technical documents on the product.
9. Laboratory retesting of improved products and review of revised documentation.
10. If correction or retesting costs are incurred, the laboratory will issue a supplemental fee notice to the applicant.
11. The applicant requests payment of the fee in accordance with the supplemental fee notice.
12. The laboratory to provide the applicant with test reports and certification CE certificate.

After you got the basic certificate, let's take a look at the e-bikes standard in different countries.

America

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) classifies low-speed electric bicycles as consumer products, and electric bicycle products fall under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC requires that all low-speed e-bikes or tricycles manufactured for commercial use must be equipped with pedals that can be pedaled, have an electric motor output of no more than 750 watts, a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour), and weigh no more than 50 kilograms. However, the definition and regulation of e-bikes vary from state to state in the US.

Japan

In Japan, there are strict restrictions on the use of electric bicycles. Only "intelligent electric-assist bicycles" are allowed on the roads in Japan, and the requirements for "intelligent electric-assist bicycles" are very strict; the Japanese Road Traffic Law specifies the following for electric-assist bicycles in all road conditions.

1. If the speed is less than 15km/h, human power: electric power≥1, i.e. electric power is not allowed to be greater than human power, but electric power is close to human power.
2. Under any road conditions, when the speed is greater than 15km/h, the power will be reduced by 1/9 when the speed increases by 1km/h.
3. When the speed exceeds 24km/h, the electric system of the whole vehicle will be turned off.
4. Within 1 second after the human pedaling starts, the electric booster system will start to be requested; within 1 second after the human pedaling stops, the electric booster system of the whole vehicle will be turned off.
5. In order to save electric energy, after the intelligent electric-assist bicycle stops running for a certain period of time (generally 3-5 minutes), the whole bicycle will be in a dormant state.
6. The continuity of riding must be ensured and the power should not be intermittent.

Europe

Electric bicycles in the European Union are usually divided into two categories: electric-assisted bicycles and electric bicycles. Electric bicycles that do not require a driver's license to legally be on the road refer to electric-assist bicycles, which are limited to a maximum power of 250 watts and a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

1. Maximum rated power of 250 watts (0.25kw);
2. When the speed reaches 25km/h or when the pedal stops, the output horsepower will be gradually reduced until power failure;
3. The battery voltage is lower than 48VDC or the built-in charger voltage 230V. Requirements 3. Electromagnetic compatibility (interference and tolerance)
4. Battery safety test 5. Waterproof test IEC 60529 IP X4 6.

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