Pedelecs

Definitions
Electric bicycle and/or LEV (Light Electric Vehicle of weight less than or equal to 400 kg) is a term, which covers two different concepts of vehicles with an auxiliary electric motor. On the one hand, there are cycles equipped with an auxiliary motor that cannot be exclusively propelled by that motor. Only when the cyclist pedals, does the motor assist. For these vehicles types the term “pedelec” is more commonly applied. On the other hand there are cycles equipped with an auxiliary electric motor that can be exclusively propelled by that motor. The cyclist is not necessarily required to pedal. These vehicles are generally called E-bikes.
Pedelecs and E-bikes are not always two-wheeled. There are vehicles with 3 or 4 wheels. Legal definitions always have the term “cycles” in order to cover all vehicles, irrespective of their number of wheels.
European legislation stipulates that only pedelecs “which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a maximum continuous rated power of 0,25 kW, of which the output is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h, or sooner, if the cyclist stops pedalling” are classified as bicycles. For these vehicle types, the European standard EN 15194 (EPAC – Electrically Power Assisted Cycles) has been implemented.
E-bikes and pedelecs of which the motor output exceeds 0.25 KW and/or the motor assists beyond 25 km/h are classified as mopeds. They have to comply with the type-approval legislation as laid down in Directive 2002/24/EC and all accompanying Directive. Full details on all legislation governing pedelecs and E-bikes are in the fact sheet “Legislation”.

Current market
There are no exact statistics available for the production, sales, import and export of electric bicycles in the European Union. As for EU sales however, there are various estimates.
Bike Europe, the international trade journal for the European bicycle and scooter market, published the following in their April 2009 issue: "For the entire European Union with its current 27 member states, 2008 sales are estimated by some industry associations at 300,000 units, which seems too low considering that in Holland and Germany alone last years sales stood at about a quarter of a million units. For 2009 the industry associations are expecting sales to grow to about 400,000 units in Europe. This number again seems to be an underestimation given that in Europe’s main markets Germany and the Netherlands, public interest in e-Bikes is at high level."
The “Electric Bikes Worldwide Reports – 2010 Update” estimates European sales in 2009 at 750,000 and has a prognosis of 1,000,000 vehicles in 2010. In any case, the European Union is now the second largest market in the world after China. The very high sales volume in China is due to the fact that a large number of cities have legally banned petrol engine mopeds and scooters. People had no other choice than to opt for electric bicycles. In China, the type that can be propelled be the motor itself largely dominates the market.
It is important to note is that since 2007 growth in the EU is vigorous. Today, the European market of electric bicycles consists almost exclusively of pedelecs. As for individual member states, the following data have been published.