E-BIKES CATEGORISATION
5
PEDELEC
An electric bicycle with limited pedal assistance up to 25 km/h. On an electric bike
with limited pedal assistance, the motor only works if you apply a certain amount of
force to the pedal. The motor therefore only supports your own pedaling. Pedelecs
are exempt from the EU Motor Vehicle Directive if they are limited to an average
motor output of 250 W and the motor assistance is limited to 25 km/h or higher.
This means that pedelecs do not require an operating license and are not subject to
helmet, insurance or driver's license requirements in Germany. However, the M1
team generally recommends wearing a helmet! In terms of the German StVO, only
these "normal" pedelecs are considered bicycles.
INFO
Please observe the regulations applicable in the individual countries
of the EU for the use of a pedelec.
S-PEDELEC
An electric bicycle with pedal assistance up to 45 km/h. With S-Pedelecs, the motor
also only works when you apply a certain force to the pedal. This means that the
motor only supports your own pedaling on S-Pedelecs. Helmets are compulsory for
S-Pedelecs in Germany, and at least a Class AM driver's license is required. In addi-
tion, S-Pedelecs are subject to insurance and may only be used on cycle paths if also
approved for mopeds with the relevant road traffic sign and always outside of town.
In the legal sense of the term, S-Pedelecs are "low-powered mopeds" in vehicle class
L1e-B.
INFO
Please observe the regulations applicable in the individual countries
of the EU for the use of an S-Pedelec.
