Oh, I've read it, and countless other resources too. The fact is, no one really knows what's going on at present, since the law is in flux and the lawmakers have had bigger fish to fry. European directives, that are supposed to replace our old electric vehicle rules, say 250watts rated power and no independent throttle. No type approval required. British Law says 200watts, but a throttle is allowed. Every ebike in Halfords is Euro law compliant, not british law compliant. It's all very-very confused.
It's also "rated" power, and any electrician will tell you rated and actual power are two very different things. A 250w rated motor can output far more for short periods, such as when the battery is fully charged.
I've played it safe, or at least as safe as I can for the time being, by limiting my motor to a constant measured (not just rated) 250watts of
input power when on road, and it only works when you pedal it. It's very conservative in its legal mode, and considerably slower than the ebike you'll buy from Halfords. As an additional safeguard, I don't often ride on roads. I hate riding on roads, and prefer to stick to muddier locations where possible.
It's all so utterly confused that to date there has never been a successful prosecution, although I do know of one that came close. The driver of an electrically powered pedicab in the west end was stopped and ultimately charged with having an overwieght machine, which I think then came to nothing anyway since the European law has no such wieght limits. Bear in mind that's for a type of vehicle that is being actively targeted by police in London, and they still couldn't make it stick for lack of any real case law.
Since there's such enormous confusion the DfT have stated that no one with a technically illegal euro power bike will be prosecuted, and have now started consulting on just what the law should be. They launched the consultation yesterday...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... cument.pdf
I imagine that in some way, somehow, my bike is illegal. Yet nic one is able to tell me how that might be. I even took it along to show the local police at a bike show, and see what they made of it. They're not really sure...
When building it I went to considerable lengths to ensure it would not exceed any of the specifics in law. I rarely ride on road anyway, and I certainly don't ride it at silly power mode on the road. In fact I rarely engage the dafter power levels when off road, unless climbing a very big hill, or if I have a spare chain and chain tool with me. I really don't relish pushing the bloody thing home again if I break it, since it's not the sort of bike you can throw over your shoulder anymore.
