All about bicycles, electric-assisted bikes, technology and safety in the press

In our daily work as we deal with bicycle safety, technology and user manuals we come across lots of safety risks. The most frequent ones are published in articles of the leading German special-interest magazines TOUR – Europas Rennrad-Magazin Nr. 1, BIKE – Das Mountainbike Magazin Europas Nr. 1 and E-Bike – Das Pedelec-Magazin to make this information important for the sector accessible to a wider public.

For many years now the Eurobike Show Daily accompanying the annual international Eurobike Show has given us the opportunity to publish our perspective on major developments in the cycle industry in full-page articles.

We also speak regularly in independent lectures about all topics relating to bicycle technology and bicycle market. In addition, we are regularly cited by further special-interest magazines or trade journals as well as more and more by radio and television and in their media reports, which shows us that we are completely right with our information. The section NEWS informs you about the latest news from our specialist fields. The reports and publications of this section are listed chronologically or according to topics of interest.

SAZbike 16/2015
Reading time 1:20 minutes

Modifications to e-bikes – a problem also for manufacturers

The experts’ recommendations

Dirk Zedler – Zedler institute

Pedelecs have to be provided by the manufacturer with a CE-marking. To this end the complete product must undergo a conformity procedure based on the original parts list of the pedelec. Only if the product has passed all tests and only if the imperative risk analysis was successful, the vehicle can be put on the market. Therefore, modifications to the pedelec, i.e. changes to the assembled pedelec, can compromise the CE-marking which means that the pedelec may no longer be sold by the dealer. This implicit prohibition to make changes refers in particular to components which mean considerable modifications to the characteristics of the vehicle. That does not only concern the motor power, but also things which seem trivial at first sight, such as the transmission or the stem.

A stem or handlebars combined with another seating position for the cyclist may change the riding characteristics of the pedelec. This can mean that the operational safety is no longer given. A solution to this difficult situation for the dealer is that the pedelec manufacturers work out lists specifying the products with which the dealer can assemble the vehicle to the customer wishes.

A positive thing is that some manufacturers have already started to do so, others are about to do so. My recommendation for the dealers is to order the pedelecs from those manufacturers where often necessary changes are already provided. Trade supervisory authorities may impose a stop of sales to dealers grossly ignoring this point. In addition, dealers assume liability for the changes, if the worst comes to the worst.

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