Two years ago, at a Mexican velodrome, Victor Campenaerts covered 55 kilometers in 60 minutes. He set a new Hour Record, one of the few golden measures in cycling. Such speed is only available to a handful of human beings … Except if they have an electric bicycle. Technological improvements in engines are allowing manufacturers to produce faster and faster models. So fast they dwarf Campeanerts.
The novelty. Our colleagues from Xataka told it a few days ago: at least two companies have presented electric bicycles capable of reaching 60 kilometers / hour in recent months. The first is run by VanMoof, a Dutch manufacturer. Your Model V will have a 700W motor powerful enough to exceed the speed limit in most cities. It is scheduled to go on the market at the end of next year for € 3,000.
Precedents. The second is not a bicycle as such but a device capable of propelling the speed of any bicycle 50% more. It is signed by Speedi, a New Zealand company. Before them we could already count on devices such as the Vintage Electric Roadster, bordering at 64 km / h, or the Revolution X, powerful enough to circulate at about 96 km / h. The first does not offer any kind of doubt about its claims, with a design that pays homage to the classic motorcycles of the ’50s and’ 60s. The second one is more similar to a traditional MTB (but faster).
The dilemma. Of course, all of them have different modes and speed limiters. But they could potentially go faster than any other cyclist, approaching the speeds of a motorcyclist or a car. Obviously, this poses challenges for the legislator: is a bicycle that can circulate at 60 km / h a bicycle or a motorized vehicle that requires special licenses and specific controls, as is the case with different types of motorcycle?
As of today, no permit is required to ride a bicycle. Neither of registrations or specific taxes. It is something that could change if e-bikes they begin to take to the streets. The line between an electric bike and an electric motorcycle is thin.
The example. VanMoof has decided to name his creature a “hyperbike”. The General Directorate of Traffic, by European regulations, prefers to call them “speed bikes”. These are motorized devices with up to 4,000W and capable of reaching speeds of 45 km / h. Unlike the e-bikes Conventional (250W and 25 km / h maximum assisted) do require homologation, registration, technical sheet and periodic reviews (ITV). For practical purposes they are mopeds (L1e), not bicycles, which would make it difficult to commercialize creatures like the Model V.
Higher. To what extent did the hatching of the super-e-bikes can it become a problem? It will depend on the preferences of the industry and consumers. At the moment we know that the electric bicycle is experiencing a sweet moment, enough for manufacturers to invest in increasingly powerful and risky models: the sales of e-bikes they increased 240% last year in the United States and already represent 20% of the market share in Europe. Countries like the Netherlands or Germany already buy more electricity than non-electricity.
The future is electric. And long before cars, we are buying bicycles. Last year, in full boom of both, 1.3 million EVs were sold for 4.5 million e-bikes. The question is no longer how fast the market grows, but how fast the bikes go.