From home delivery services to urban families, electric bicycles have become an essential form of transportation around China. However, this will all likely change when China implements new national safety guidelines on electric bicycles next year.
As of April 15 of the following year, all newly manufactured electric bicycles will be restricted to speeds of a maximum 25 kilometers per hour as well as a maximum weight of 55 kilograms.
As mandated by the State Standardization Administration Committee and the State Administration of Supervision and Administration, the new rules will make future electric bikes much less powerful than those currently on the market, estimated to top out at 40 kilometers per hour and reach weights of up to 70 kilograms.
READ: Didi Continues Pivot Into Two Wheeled Mobility With Beta Test of Electric Bike Rental
Although technological advancements have improved battery performance, motor power on the new bikes will be limited to 400 watts while voltages will exceed no more than 48 volts.
And to ensure their resemblance to bicycles isn't just cosmetic, all new Chinese e-bikes will be required by law to be equipped with foot pedals so that they can be used under manual power.
At the same time as the new national rules will see a rise in electric bikes safety standards, local authorities have decided to set-up special e-bike charging zones and ban unsafe bikes by 2021.
READ: Beijing to Ban Electric Bikes on 10 Major Streets, Including Chang'an Jie
Last April, four people died when a fire broke out at a Beijing e-bike store.
Electric bicycles are an indispensable form of transportation around China. With car ownership becoming increasingly difficult and expensive, some urban families depend on e-bikes to transport multiple children while others use it to transport oversized packages.
Even if you don't personally drive an e-bike, the new rules will still likely have an effect upon a majority of Chinese residents. China's booming home delivery (kuaidi) service exclusively depend upon electric bicycles as a cheap, fast mode of transportation to make their deliveries.
Images: Weibo.com, dzwww.com, toutiao.jxnews.com.cn
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