Law not suitable for electrical scooters

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kaspaas

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In this era of high liquid fuel prices one would have thought all stops would be opened to promote electical scooters...

See

http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3342062&fSectionId=&fSetId=381

He supplies industrial electric controllers as well as a neat line in battery-assisted mountain bikes – and he would like to supply non-polluting electric scooters to South Africa's commuters but the law won't let him.

SABS motorcycle expert Paul Barber explained: "The law sees scooters in terms of engine capacity, such as 50cc or 125cc. Electric scooters are defined in terms of wattage
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Can you beleive that the law can be as daft as this? Because a scooter does not have an engine in CC's it can't exist on our roads!
 
I want one, to go with my Segway Human Transporter... which I also want.
 
In most other countries these are classed as bicycles as they have pedals - no licencing /red tape needed.

Stupid beaurocrats
 
Waron said:
I want one, to go with my Segway Human Transporter... which I also want.
Click to expand...

have you been on a Segway? I had a chance to play with one when I was at SunCity a year or so ago.

They are brilliant. Really wouldn't mind one, just in this country they wouldn't last long in public.
 
reech said:
In most other countries these are classed as bicycles as they have pedals - no licencing /red tape needed.

Stupid beaurocrats
Click to expand...

eh? cough cough...dude, come to europe.

the things are banned pretty much everywhere.
1) if you ride on the road, you require to pay road tax and have a license to operate it, because it is a powered vehicle...so loads of red tape, and single-vehicle-licensing hassles to comply with...generally not worth it.
2) to kick #1 silly, you may not ride a powered vehicle on the pavement.

hence, you cant ride them here either.

<edit> funny, article mention 2kw for this thing, "about the same as a 50cc" which is bollocks...way back when 50cc were doing 7.2hp, or around 5.5 kw.
a 2kw vehicle, on the road, is called an "obstacle" or a "hazard" ...take your pick
 
Last edited:
http://www.powacycle.co.uk/Are-electric-bikes-legal.asp



What are the main legal issues for electric cycles being used on UK roads?

Electrically-assisted bicycles are Road Legal in the UK provided:

o The electric cycle weighs 40kg or less
o The motor rating is not over 200 watts continuous power output
o Powered speed does not exceed 15mph
o The cycle has working pedals
o Riders are aged 14 or over

Are licences, Insurance or MOT’s required electric bikes?

No - Unlike motor cycles there are no legal requirements for Insurance, MOT’s or Road Tax provided the products meet the requirements outlined above.

Are motor cycle helmets needed?

No - The same rules and recommendations that apply to cycles, apply to electrically assisted cycles.

So wearing a cycle helmet is recommended, but not a legal requirement for use on the road.
 
yeah, well done reech, way to go.
this thing weighs more than 40kg, it outputs more than 200 watts, it exceeds 15mpg, i cant see no pedals on it either.

what was your point again?

ok, seriously, i think that part of the law you is exactly meant for a bicycle converted to run on an electric engine..this is a scooter we are talking about here. they also mention the word "assisted" i.e. it is not the primary power means, but a part of the whole (hence the pedal bit)..which doesnt apply to my post above.

if "that" thing was in the uk, it wouldnt be road legal either. sorry mate.
this http://www.powacycle.co.uk/ is what the law is talking about, which is a far cry from that scooter thing mentioned in the parent posters link.

my point...dont cry about how rubbish the s.a. law is...all laws in all countries take time to catch up with technology, and when they do, they are often STILL even more behind than when they started:-)
 
werner said:
yeah, well done reech, way to go.
this thing weighs more than 40kg, it outputs more than 200 watts, it exceeds 15mpg, i cant see no pedals on it either.
Click to expand...
Fair enough - guilty as charged! Did not rtfa - oh well.

assumed it was this from the title (heard a piece on it on cape talk): http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=116&art_id=vn20060712133942289C917558

Anyway I wonder if there's anything that specifically outlaws electric scooters. (since they don't have cylinders and can't be rated)
 
hmmm...good question

the law here in the uk doesnt really cater for engine capacity (well, sort of...there is a 350cc limit somewhere with regards to insurance for certain classes AFAIK, but does have power outputs listed.

i.e. 3 classes.
1) scooter/moped thingy...can ride this legally if you have a car license
2) bikes up to 33hp
3) bikes above 33hp

I suppose the electric thing would fit into category 2. so it *should* pass that criteria (i.e. no cylinders, so doesnt matter...)

We also have a category for those 3 or 4 wheeled things they give to old age pensioners to help them get around, and another category for 4 wheelers (atv bikes)...seen a couple of 4 wheelers on the roads already

Lemme go ask some questions and have a read up about this...will post back at a later stage...
 
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