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electric tricycle, legal question
Does anyone know if a tricycle with an electric motor is classed the
same way as a three wheeled car by law? Would an electric tricycle need road tax and insurance? I seem to remember the Sinclair C5 could be driven by anyone over 12? I know you can get a bicycle with electrical assistance, but I didn't think they were classed in the same way as mopeds (for example). -- Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: , John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html www.Strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible price |
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electric tricycle, legal question
John Burns wrote: Does anyone know if a tricycle with an electric motor is classed the same way as a three wheeled car by law? Would an electric tricycle need road tax and insurance? There is some detailed advice re. this at http://www.atob.org.uk/questionselectric.htm Seems to be the same as electric-assist bikes: "The UK Department for Transport confirms that two, three or four wheeled electric cycles will not be treated as motor vehicles provided they conform with the European Directive". Jon |
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electric tricycle, legal question
John Burns wrote in news:45B67F0E.7D27
@unixnerd.demon.co.uk: Does anyone know if a tricycle with an electric motor is classed the same way as a three wheeled car by law? Would an electric tricycle need road tax and insurance? I seem to remember the Sinclair C5 could be driven by anyone over 12? I know you can get a bicycle with electrical assistance, but I didn't think they were classed in the same way as mopeds (for example). I think the max all up weight is 40kg and the motor is supposed to be max 200 watts (ridiculously small, I have a 450 watt motor on my electric bike.) No limit to number of wheels though so you'll be ok there. -- tallbloke |
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electric tricycle, legal question
On 24 Jan, 01:21, tallbloke wrote: the motor is supposed to be max 200 watts (ridiculously small, I have a 450 watt motor on my electric bike.) tallbloke Is that 450w max. output or continuous output? Motors are often labelled according to their theoretical max. output but the highest continuous output they can sustain may be significantly below that. I think the law on electric-assist bikes refers to continuous output. Jon |
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electric tricycle, legal question
tallbloke wrote:
I think the max all up weight is 40kg and the motor is supposed to be max 200 watts (ridiculously small, I have a 450 watt motor on my electric bike.) No limit to number of wheels though so you'll be ok there. You're allowed a bit extra power on a trike: 250 Watt. I think the trike weight limit is a bit higher too, but I can't remember how much. -- Andrew |
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electric tricycle, legal question
In ,
John Burns tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us: Does anyone know if a tricycle with an electric motor is classed the same way as a three wheeled car by law? Would an electric tricycle need road tax and insurance? I seem to remember the Sinclair C5 could be driven by anyone over 12? I know you can get a bicycle with electrical assistance, but I didn't think they were classed in the same way as mopeds (for example). It sez 'ere (Issue 6 of the BHPC Newsletter): Statutory Instrument No. 1168/1983 ....the vehicle shall: a) have a kerbside weight not exceeding - i) in the case of a bicycle, other than a tandem bicycle, 40 kilograms, and ii) in the case of a tandem bicycle and a tricycle, 60 kilograms b) be fitted with pedals by means of which it is capable of being propelled, and c) be fitted with no motor other than an electric motor which - i) has a continuous rated output which, when installed in the vehicle wi the nominal voltage supplied, does not exceed - A) in the case of a bicycle, other than a tandem bicycle, 0.2 kW B) in the case of a tandem bicycle and a tricycle, 0.25 kW, and ii) cannot propel the vehicle when it is travelling at more than 15 mph Statutory Instrument No. 1176/1983 No person shall ride, or cause or permit to be ridden, on a road a pedal cycle to which the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 apply unless it is fitted with - a) a plate securely fixed in a conspicuous and readily accessible position showing - i) The name of the manufacturer of the vehicle ii) The nominal voltage of the battery (as defined in the 1971 British Standard) of the vehicle, and iii) The continuous rated output (as defined in the 1971 British Standard) of the motor of the vehicle b) braking systems which are so designed and constructed that - i) in the case of a bicycle they comply with the standards specified in clause 6 of the 1981 British Standard, and ii) in the case of a tricycle they comply with standards no less than the standards of braking systems fitted to a bicycle which which complies with clause 6 of the 1981 British Standard c) a battery which does not leak so as to be a source of danger, and d) a device biased to the off position which allows power to come from the motor only when the device is operated so as to achieve that result. If it doesn't comply with the above, then it's classified as a milk float :-) and would need to be registered, insured, MOT'd, display a VED wossname etc. etc. Though IIRC the VED on such a beast is this: 0 GBP -- Dave Larrington http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk And then there was light and He thought it was good, so He threw the receipt away. |
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electric tricycle, legal question
In article , Dave Larrington wrote:
Statutory Instrument No. 1176/1983 No person shall ride, or cause or permit to be ridden, on a road a pedal cycle to which the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 apply [...] If it doesn't comply with the above, then it's classified as a milk float :-) and would need to be registered, insured, MOT'd, display a VED wossname etc. etc. Though IIRC the VED on such a beast is this: 0 GBP Actually an electric moped, which matters for the class of driving licence you need, the legal requirement to wear a helmet, and what lights and so on it needs to be fitted with compared with a mlk float. |
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electric tricycle, legal question
In ,
Alan Braggins tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us: Actually an electric moped, which matters for the class of driving licence you need, the legal requirement to wear a helmet, and what lights and so on it needs to be fitted with compared with a mlk float. Even for a trike? -- Dave Larrington http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk I am the Disgruntled Employee; I am the New Face of Labour Relations. |
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electric tricycle, legal question
In article , Dave Larrington wrote:
Alan Braggins tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us: Actually an electric moped, which matters for the class of driving licence you need, the legal requirement to wear a helmet, and what lights and so on it needs to be fitted with compared with a mlk float. Even for a trike? Point. I read the I know you can get a bicycle with electrical assistance, but I didn't think they were classed in the same way as mopeds (for example). bit and forgot trikes were the subject. Helmet is a two-wheel thing: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/group....hcsp#P31_1694 "If you are driving or riding on a 2-wheeled motorcycle on a road you must wear a helmet. Passengers in a sidecar don't have to wear a helmet and neither does a Sikh who is wearing a turban. Also, no helmet is needed if someone is pushing the motorcycle on foot." I did do some research on the rules for very lightweight electric vehicles (EAPC without a speed limiter) a while back, and even ended up writing to someone at the DfT (DETR then), but AFAIR never got an answer, and the rules have probably changed by now anyway. http://www.vca.gov.uk/additional/fil...les/vca039.pdf "Category L2e - Moped -Three wheel having a maximum speed of 45km/h, maximum spark ignition internal combustion engine capacity 50cm3 or maximum power of any other internal combustion engine of 4kW or maximum electric motor power of 4kW." But that it's a moped for Type Approval purposes doesn't mean the same is true for the other purposes. On the other hand that document also says "UK National Regulations - The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (C&U and RVLR) 3.1 Definitions Motorcycle - a vehicle having less than four wheels and weighing less than 410kg unladen. This definition includes three wheeled motorcycles and three-wheel mopeds: Three Wheeled Motorcycle - a motorcycle having three wheels, not including a motorcycle and sidecar. Moped - a motorcycle weighing less than 250kg and with a maximum design speed not greater than 30mph. If the engine is an internal combustion engine its capacity must not exceed 50cm3. Propelling pedals are not required." (Of course if the "maximum design speed" limit includes use on a steep downhill, then a decent bike or trike with any motor at all is going to exceed the moped limit. (I assume there must be an implicit "motorised" in the definitions somewhere.)) |
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electric tricycle, legal question
Dave Larrington wrote:
In , Alan Braggins tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us: Actually an electric moped, which matters for the class of driving licence you need, the legal requirement to wear a helmet, and what lights and so on it needs to be fitted with compared with a mlk float. Even for a trike? That'll depend how far apart the wheels are... ISTR that two wheels on a common axle less than 18" count as one wheel. I think the law was intended to cover the double wheels on the back of lorries - but it applies to everything and means , f'rinstance, that weird things like the Austin 7 engined 3-wheel Brough Superior was legally a motor bike. -- Andrew |
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