February2016

GuidanceonEuropeanTypeApprovalforcertain
ElectricallyAssistedPedalCycles(EAPC)

NewEuropeanrulesaffectingcertainElectricallyAssistedPedalCycles

Thisnoteprovidesguidancetohelp
retailers
,
manufacturers
,
importers
and
dealers
ensurethat
theydonotsellorregisternoncompliantelectricallyassistedpedalcycles.Theterm
Electrically
AssistedPedalCycles(EAPC)
includesvehiclesthatarecapableofbeingpropelledeitherby
pedallingorbyelectricpower,butdoesnot

includemorepowerfulelectricbikeswhichcannotbe
propelledbypedalandwhicharetreatedasmopedsorscooters.Aseparateguidancenotecovers
thesituationasregardsthedomesticlawsinGreatBritaincoveringthesevehiclesandthecriteria
theymustsatisfyinordernotbeclassedasmotorvehicles.

NewEuropeanlawsaffectcertainEAPCsoldnewafter1January2016.Ifyouimport,manufactureor
sellcertainEAPCthenyouneedtobeawareofthelaw.

1. Newrequirementfrom1January2016TypeApprovalfor
twistandgo
EAPC.

CertainelectricallyassistedpedalcyclesarespecifiedinGBlawas
notbeingmotorvehicles
and
thusnotsubjecttotherequirementsforregistration,tax,driverlicensing,compulsoryinsurance,
helmetwearingandannualroadworthinesstestingthatwouldotherwiseapplytoallmotorisedtwo
wheelvehicles.WithintheGBdefinitionofElectricallyAssistedPedalCycletherearetwodistinct
classescycleswhichcanonlyobtainpowerassistancewhentheriderispedalling,andthosewhere
powercanbeobtainedevenwhentheriderisnotpedalling,oftenknownasTwistandgo.

1.1 Cycleswhichcannotobtainpowerassistancewhentheriderisnotpedalling
UnderEuropeanlaw(Regulation168/2013:Article22(h))thesecyclesare
exempt
fromEUtype
approval.

1.2 Cycleswherepowercanbeobtainedevenwhentheriderisnotpedalling(
twistandgo)

UnderEuropeanlawthesecyclesarerequiredtoobtainEUordomestictypeapproval.Theyarenot
requiredtoberegistered.Thereishoweveranexemptionforcycleswherepowerisavailableonlyup
to6km/hwithoutpedalling,tohelpstartup,andtheseare
exempt
fromtypeapproval.

2. IstheresomeleewayforinscopeEAPCmodelsthatwereinstockoronsalepriorto1
January2016?
Yes.WebelievethatinscopeEAPCwithouttypeapprovalcancontinuetobesoldbyimportersif
theyweremanufacturedandimportedpriorto1Jan2016.Article12of168/2013statesthat
importersshallplaceonthemarketonlycompliantvehicles,suggestingthatEAPCalreadyplacedon
themarketpriorto1January2016cancontinuetobesoldoff.Thisdoesnotpermittheimportor
manufactureofnewinscopeEAPCwithoutapprovalafterthisdate.

3. Whatformsoftypeapprovalexist?

February2016
2.1
SingleVehicleApproval
(MSVA),whichisaninspectionnormallycarriedoutbytheDriverand
VehicleServicesAgency(DVSA),formerlyVOSA.AnEAPCwillbetreatedasalowpowermoped.
Formoreinformationonhowtoapply,detailsoftherequirements,thefeeandsoon,see:
https://www.gov.uk/vehicleapproval/motorcyclesinglevehicleapproval

2.2
EuropeanTypeApproval
(ECWVTA),whichisavailablefromtheUKVehicleCertification
Agency(VCA)orfromtypeapprovalauthoritiesinothermemberstates,forexampleKBAin
Germany.Moreinformationontherequirementsisgivenbelow.

4. EuropeantypeapprovaltherequirementsforEAPCinscope(seepara1.2above)
4.1 RequirementsofEuropeantypeapproval
from1Jan2016
WehavebeenadvisedthatinitiallytheonlyrequirementforinscopeEAPCisonlighting:An
AutomaticHeadlampOn
(AHO)facilitymustbefitted.Essentially,abicyclefrontlampwhichthe
manufacturerdeclarescomplieswithISO67421:1987mustbefittedanddesignedtobelit
automaticallywhenthevehicleisinmotion.Thiscouldbeviadynamoorothertechnicalsolution.
Underdomesticlaw(ThePedalCycleSafetyRegulations2010)anumberofreflectorsmustbefitted
toanewbikesoitwouldbeadvisabletocovertheminthetypeapprovalinpreparationforafulltype
approvalasperparagraph3.2below.Inaddition,amanufacturersConformityofProductionwillneed
tobedemonstratedtotheVCA(oroverseasapprovalauthority).

4.2 RequirementsofEuropeantypeapprovalforvehiclessoldafter
1Jan2018
From1Jan2018allEAPCwhichareofthetwistandgotypewillneedafulltypeapprovalto
168/2013.Thisencompassesalonglistofrequirements,onlighting,brakes,andsoon,althoughin
caseoflightsandtyres,bicycleCENstandardsareaccepted,andlowspeedvehiclesareexempt
fromsomerequirements.

5. Whatarethepenaltiesfornothavingtypeapproval?
Therelevantdomesticregulationsareindraftformandwillbesubjecttoashortconsultationindue
course.Currentlyarangeoffinesareenvisagedaspenalties,dependingontheseverityand
persistenceoftheoffence.Aftermodificationfollowinganycommentsreceived,theregulationswillbe
publishedandenterintoforceimmediately.

6. Q&A

WhyarecertainEAPC(thetwistandgotypes)requiredtohavetypeapproval?

ThiswasdecidedduringaEuropeannegotiationandthemajorityviewamongmemberstateswas
thatrequiringtypeapprovalwasappropriateforthesevehicles.Onceobtained,typeapprovalmeans
thatinprinciplethevehiclecanbesoldthroughoutEurope.

WhataboutelectricpedalcycleswhicharenotEAPCunderBritishlawasthepower
exceeds250W,orthepoweredspeedcanexceed15.5mph(25kph)?

Thesevehicles,regardlessoftheprecisemodeofpowerassistance,areclassifiedasmopedsin
GreatBritainandlikeanymoped,typeapprovalhasbeenarequirementsince2003.Dependingon
themaximumpowerandspeedthevehicleswillbecategorisedinEuropeasL1eA(notexceeding
1000kWor25km/h)orL1eB(notL1eA,andupto4kWand45km/h).

February2016

7. Glossary

Europeantypeapproval

Mosttwoandthreewheelmotorvehiclesaretypeapprovedbeforetheycanbesoldandregistered.
Typeapprovalistheprocessofagovernmentappointedbody(e.g.theUKgovernmenthas
appointedtheVehicleCertificationAgency,VCA)certifyingthatarangeofvehiclescomplieswith
relevantsafetyandenvironmentallaws.Itisnormallyobtainedbythemanufacturer,asonlyhecan
guaranteetheconformityofeveryvehicleheproduces.Onceavehiclerangeistypeapproved,a
manufacturerissuesanECCertificateofConformity(ECCoC)witheachvehicletodeclarethatit
complieswiththeapprovedspecification.

MotorcycleSingleVehicleApproval(MSVA)

Twoandthreewheelmotorvehicles,includinginscopeelectriccyclesthathavenotbeentype
approvedbythemanufacturermustundergoanSVAinspectionbeforetheycanberegistered,to
ensuretheymeetrelevantsafetyandenvironmentalstandards.DVSAcarryoutMSVAtestingin
GreatBritain,withDVAresponsibleinNorthernIreland.

8. ExportsandsalesinotherEUmemberstates

Othermemberstatesmayhavecompletelydifferentdomesticrules,althoughasamatterofprinciple
theywillberequiredtoacceptavehiclewithafullEUtypeapproval.YoumayfindthatEAPCofa
classsubjecttotypeapprovalwillbesubjecttoregistration,driverlicensingandsoonasifitwerea
mopedalbeitsomememberstateshavealessonerousregimeformopeds.Youwillneedto
contactthevehicleortransportauthorityinthosestates,orabicycleormotorcycletradeassociation,
formoreinformation.

9. Usefullinks

MSVAfromDVSA(GB)
https://www.gov.uk/vehicleapproval/motorcyclesinglevehicleapproval
MSVAfromDVA(NorthernIreland)
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/themotorcyclesinglevehicleapprovalmsvascheme
VehicleCertificationAgency(VCA)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/
EURegulationsonmotorcycles
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/automotive/legislation/motorbikestrikesquads/index_en.htm
MotorCycleIndustryAssociation(MCIA)
http://www.mcia.co.uk/
BicycleAssociationofGreatBritain(BAGB)
http://www.bicycleassociation.org.uk/

The information in this document is a summary of the Departments understandingofwhat the law
requires. However, ultimately the interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts based on
individual facts of any particular case. You are therefore advised to consulttherelevant legislation
and,ifnecessary,seekindependentadvice.

DepartmentforTransport