Author Archives: Annick Roetynck

About Annick Roetynck

Annick is the Manager of LEVA-EU, with decades of experience in two-wheeled and light electric mobility.

• LEVA-EU wants dedicated light electric vehicle battery category

  26/04/2021 18:00 Comments Off on LEVA-EU wants dedicated light electric vehicle battery category

  Last week, LEVA-EU has organized two online meetings, in which the trade association has informed LEV-businesses on the new battery proposal. The meetings, open to both members and non-members, were aimed at gathering support for the amendments LEVA-EU is to present to the European Parliament and the Council.

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  The Commission’s proposal to the European Parliament and Council for new battery legislation is no less than an existential threat to most companies in the Light Electric Vehicle (LEV)-sector.

  The Commission does propose reasonable measures for batteries in light means of transport. Unfortunately, the Commission’s definition of light means of transport is such that it would only categorize batteries in certain electric cycles as portable batteries subject to reasonable requirements. Only sealed batteries up to 5 kg to be used in vehicles with a seat and a motor of no more than 750 watts (sic) come under the category of portable batteries. All other batteries, i.e. in electric scooters, mobility scooters, e-mopeds, e-motorcycles and other electric vehicles in the L-category would be categorized as electric vehicle batteries.

  Electric vehicle batteries are to become subject to very extensive and complicated sustainability requirements supplemented with heavy-duty administration. It is simply impossible for LEV-battery producers to comply with electric vehicle battery regulations. It is also very debatable whether these requirements are necessary and adequate for LEV-batteries.

  Furthermore, in most cases the responsibilities will not fall on the company that effectively makes the battery, but on the company that first puts the battery on the market in an EU Member State, i.e. the vehicle producer or importer. Under electric vehicle battery rules, that producer will be charged with duties beyond his competence.

  LEVA-EU has found the Commission prepared to reconsider this proposal for batteries for light means of transport. Unfortunately, the proposal is already with the European Parliament and Council. LEVA-EU therefore needs the support of LEV-companies in its campaign for a battery proposal that will not destroy any LEV-companies. Gathering that support was the objective of last week’s information meetings.

  LEVA-EU proposes not to categorise LEV-batteries as portable nor as electric vehicle batteries. Instead, the association proposes to create a 4th, new category specifically for LEV-batteries. The category can be very easily defined by linking it to the L-category in technical legislation. Consequently, all batteries in vehicles in the L-category, but also all vehicle excluded from the L-category under Article 2.2 of Regulation 168/2013, could be categorised as LEV-batteries. As a result, a dedicated collection scheme can be organized and accurate targets may be set upon specific research. LEVA-EU believes it is important to have collection separate from portable batteries, because due to specific hazards, LEV-batteries are subject to UN-rules for transport.

  The Commission does however insist on additional sustainability requirements for the heavier batteries in the L-category, starting from L3 to L7. LEVA-EU’s proposal is not to impose such requirements immediately but to research what is necessary and feasible and to consult with LEV-businesses on this.

  In the meantime, LEVA-EU has initiated in talks with Members of the European Parliament. The association can obviously rely on support from its members for this work but welcomes any additional support from companies that are not members (yet). In the next few weeks, LEVA-EU is going to translate its proposal in concrete amendments that will be presented to the European Parliament and the Council.

  To find out more about this issue or to pledge your support for the LEVA-EU campaign, contact Annick Roetynck, tel. +32 9 233 60 05, email annick@leva-eu.com.

• VanMoof offers easier charging and extra range with its first ever PowerBank

  20/04/2021 15:19 Comments Off on VanMoof offers easier charging and extra range with its first ever PowerBank

  As a result of rider feedback and next-level product iteration, Dutch e-bike brand and LEVA-EU member introduces new accessory.

  Source: Amsterdam, April 20, 2021 – Today, VanMoof announced its most anticipated innovation to date – a removable PowerBank that gives riders up to 62 miles extra range on their VanMoof S3 or X3. As a detachable accessory that can be easily charged indoors, the PowerBank is designed not only to extend your ride, but also to allow riders to charge their bikes more easily. The accessory makes VanMoof’s e-bikes even more accessible as even longer commute distances are now possible on a single charge. It also brings the VanMoof S3 & X3’s range capacity closer to that of an average electric car, making the e-bike company’s case for car replacement even more compelling. The PowerBank can charge the bike’s main battery both standing still or while riding, and packs a massive power upgrade – almost doubling the bike’s energy capacity. 

  What riders wanted most was to be able to ride their bikes for longer and charge them more easily. The introduction of the PowerBank showcases VanMoof’s attentiveness to its growing community of riders. It’s also an example of how the e-bike company is constantly fine-tuning its product in-house to get the best results. Ultimately, the PowerBank complements VanMoof’s integration-first approach while offering riders the opportunity to go further and charge their bike more conveniently.

  The PowerBank is bought as an optional accessory and can charge the bike’s main battery both standing still and while riding. It’s priced at $348 (plus $25 for shipping if not ordered at the same time as a new bike), charges from 0–100% charge in three hours, and weighs 6.17 lbs. It’ll give every VanMoof S3 & X3 rider an additional range of 28-62 miles depending on what pedal assist level they ride with. The VanMoof PowerBank is available to order from April 20th at vanmoof.com. Ships June 2021.

• Beijing’s Example of a Cycling Highway

  19/04/2021 16:17 Comments Off on Beijing’s Example of a Cycling Highway

  Source: Fietsberaad, 21 March 2021. Beijing is planning to become a pedestrian- and cyclist friendly city. To succeed in their ambitious goal, the city of Beijing is collaborating with Dutch Company Royal Haskoning DHV. This Dutch company is designing a cycling highway in Tongzhou, eastern entrance to the Chinese capital.

  Over the years, multiple governmental organisations have been moving out of the center of Beijing to the adjacent Tongzhou district. Around the Tongzhou district, new residential areas arise and this brings opportunities to promote walking- and cycling infrastructure in dense residential areas.

  A newly 2,7 km cycling highway is designed to connect the center of Tongzhou with the residential areas. In order to promote frequent usage, the designers have opted for a design that is as straight as possible, at a certain height passing a canal, rail track and car highway. See the header photo, this shows a sketch with several facilities of the highway to bring shade, less air resistance, functional use of rainwater and cover against wintery conditions. Other features such as tunnels will also be part of the project.

  The entire design is based on existing Dutch projects like the Rijnwaalpad in Arnhem/Nijmegen and tunnels at the Amsterdam Central Train Station. The cycling highway needs to be operational in 2023. The district of Tongzhou is planning to offer 2,300 km of cycling infrastructure in 2035.

  Quite recently, Beijing opened a specially designed cycling trajectory of 6,5 km with notable characteristics. Traffic rules restrict the maximum speed to 15 km/h, electric cycles are currently forbidden and the center lane reverses direction during rush hour.

  This trajectory must eventually lead to betters flows of traffic, reducing congestion between the residential areas of Huilongguan and Shangdi. In these two areas, there are also many high-tech compagnies located.

• This Week: LEVA-EU Meetings on Battery Proposal; Find out if your Company is under Threat.

  15:25 Comments Off on This Week: LEVA-EU Meetings on Battery Proposal; Find out if your Company is under Threat.

  The Commission’s proposal to the European Parliament and Council for new battery legislation is no less than an existential threat to most companies in the Light Electric Vehicle (LEV)-sector. Find out from LEVA-EU’s information meetings this week if your company is under threat.

  The Commission does propose reasonable measures for batteries in light means of transport. Unfortunately, the Commission’s definition of light means of transport is such that it would only categorize batteries in certain electric cycles as portable batteries subject to reasonable requirements. All other batteries, i.e. in electric scooters, mobility scooters, e-mopeds, e-motorcycles and other electric vehicles in the L-category would be categorized as electric vehicle batteries.

  It is simply impossible for LEV-battery producers to comply with electric vehicle battery regulations. It is also very debatable whether these requirements are necessary and adequate for LEV-batteries.

  Furthermore, in most cases the responsibilities will fall on he who first puts the battery on the market in the European Union, i.e. the vehicle producer or importer. Under electric vehicle battery rules, that producer will be charged with duties beyond his competence.

  LEVA-EU has found the Commission prepared to reconsider this proposal for batteries for light means of transport. Unfortunately, the proposal is already with the European Parliament and Council. LEVA-EU therefore needs the support of your LEV-companies in its campaign for a battery proposal that will not destroy any LEV-companies.

  To inform LEV-companies on this vital matter, LEVA-EU is organising two online information meetings:

  1) on the proposal in relation to e-scooters, self-balancing vehicles, electric (cargo)cycles, speed pedelecs, …
  2) on the proposal in relation to all electric vehicles from L3 and upwards, i.e. electric mopeds, electric motorcycles, electric 3 and 4-wheel vehicles

  We will explain the proposal, the effects of the proposal on your business, the legislative procedure for the proposal, LEVA-EU’s plan to change the proposal for the benefit of your business and how you can help LEVA-EU in this campaign.

  The first meeting takes place on Thursday 22 April from 10.00 till 11.15, the second meeting from 11.30 till 12.45.

  LEVA-EU members participate in this meeting for free. The participation fee for non-LEVA-EU-members is € 100 per company. If your company joins LEVA-EU as a member within 3 months of the meeting, we will deduct this fee from the membership fee.

  To attend the meetings, you need to register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/148615277295

  Your registration will be valid for both meetings. Following your registration and (for non-members) payment, you will receive a link shortly before the meeting.

  For further details please contact LEVA-EU Manager Annick Roetynck, annick@leva-eu.com, +32 9 233 60 05.

• Greek car drivers can start riding light motorcycles

  13:51 Comments Off on Greek car drivers can start riding light motorcycles

  Article by: FEMA, March 2021 – The Greek parliament has voted in favour of a new law on sustainable urban mobility, which includes making it easier for car drivers to start riding light (electric) motorcycles.

  The new law will allow:

  • Riding a moped (category AM) by drivers who have held a car driving licence (B) for at least six years and are at least 27 years old.
  • Riding a light motorcycle: (category A1), only in Greece, by drivers who have held a car driving licence (B) for at least six years, are at least 27 years old and have completed five hours of relevant training.

  Thomas Kakadiaris from the Greek motorcyclists’ organization MOTOE says: “Greece is now one of the fifteen European countries which permit, under additional conditions, car drivers to ride mopeds or light motorcycles. The new law seems to satisfy the motorcycle industry in our country and, to be accurate, the importers, who issued a welcome announcement.”

  “The Greek Ministry of Transport has chosen the best possible solution”, according to Thomas. “It is a solomonic solution for car drivers who want to ride a light motorcycle with a B type driving licence. The age of the prospective users, the experience deriving from the driving a car and the additional training along with the responsibility that we have to show every day, are enough for us all to win.”

  When FEMA published a poll, asking European motorcyclists if they thought car licence holders should be allowed to ride an A1 motorcycle, a large majority of motorcyclists said car drivers should have easier access to light (electric) motorcycles.

  In response to the poll, motorcyclists said car licence holders should be allowed to ride an A1 (electric) motorcycle, as long as they take some motorcycle lessons to master riding a two-wheeled (electric) vehicle. In some European countries, car licence holders (B licence) are already allowed to ride an A1 (electric) or 125 cc motorcycle, but there is no coherent European policy on this matter.

  Photo credits: Cake

• (E)cycling is ten times more important than electric cars for reaching net-zero cities

  13:48 Comments Off on (E)cycling is ten times more important than electric cars for reaching net-zero cities

  Article on The Conversation by Christian Brand on 29 March 2021 – Globally, only one in 50 new cars were fully electric in 2020, and one in 14 in the UK. Sounds impressive, but even if all new cars were electric now, it would still take 15-20 years to replace the world’s fossil fuel car fleet.

  The emission savings from replacing all those internal combustion engines with zero-carbon alternatives will not feed in fast enough to make the necessary difference in the time we can spare: the next five years. Tackling the climate and air pollution crises requires curbing all motorised transport, particularly private cars, as quickly as possible. Focusing solely on electric vehicles is slowing down the race to zero emissions.

  This is partly because electric cars aren’t truly zero-carbon – mining the raw materials for their batteries, manufacturing them and generating the electricity they run on produces emissions.

  Transport is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise due to its heavy fossil fuel use and reliance on carbon-intensive infrastructure – such as roads, airports and the vehicles themselves – and the way it embeds car-dependent lifestyles. One way to reduce transport emissions relatively quickly, and potentially globally, is to swap cars for cycling, e-biking and walking – active travel, as it’s called.

  Active travel is cheaper, healthier, better for the environment, and no slower on congested urban streets. So how much carbon can it save on a daily basis? And what is its role in reducing emissions from transport overall?

  In new research, Mr Brand and his colleagues reveal that people who walk or (e)cycle have lower carbon footprints from daily travel, including in cities where lots of people are already doing this. Despite the fact that some walking and (e)cycling happens on top of motorised journeys instead of replacing them, more people switching to active travel would equate to lower carbon emissions from transport on a daily and trip-by-trip basis.

  The researchers observed around 4,000 people living in London, Antwerp, Barcelona, Vienna, Orebro, Rome and Zurich. Over a two-year period, the participants completed 10,000 travel diary entries which served as records of all the trips they made each day, whether going to work by train, taking the kids to school by car or riding the bus into town. For each trip, they calculated the carbon footprint.

  Strikingly, people who (e)cycled on a daily basis had 84% lower carbon emissions from all their daily travel than those who didn’t.

  The researchers also found that the average person who shifted from car to (e)cycle for just one day a week cut their carbon footprint by 3.2kg of CO₂ – equivalent to the emissions from driving a car for 10km, eating a serving of lamb or chocolate, or sending 800 emails.

  When the researchers compared the life cycle of each travel mode, taking into account the carbon generated by making the vehicle, fuelling it and disposing of it, they found that emissions from cycling can be more than 30 times lower for each trip than driving a fossil fuel car, and about ten times lower than driving an electric one.

  They also estimate that urban residents who switched from driving to (e)cycling for just one trip per day reduced their carbon footprint by about half a tonne of CO₂ over the course of a year, and save the equivalent emissions of a one-way flight from London to New York. If just one in five urban residents permanently changed their travel behaviour in this way over the next few years, we estimate it would cut emissions from all car travel in Europe by about 8%.

  Nearly half of the fall in daily carbon emissions during global lockdowns in 2020 came from reductions in transport emissions. The pandemic forced countries around the world to adapt to reduce the spread of the virus. In the UK, walking and (e)cycling have been the big winners, with a 20% rise in people walking regularly, and (e)cycling levels increasing by 9% on weekdays and 58% on weekends compared to pre-pandemic levels. This is despite (e)cycle commuters being very likely to work from home.

  Active travel has offered an alternative to cars that keeps social distancing intact. It has helped people to stay safe during the pandemic and it could help reduce emissions as confinement is eased, particularly as the high prices of some electric vehicles are likely to put many potential buyers off for now.

  So the race is on. Active travel can contribute to tackling the climate emergency earlier than electric vehicles while also providing affordable, reliable, clean, healthy and congestion-busting transportation.

  Find the study by Mr Brand and his fellow researchers here or in our LEV-research section ”Urban & Shared Mobility”

  Photo credits: VanMoof

• Bafang Receives China’s First UK Conformity Assessment Certificate

  12/04/2021 12:03 Comments Off on Bafang Receives China’s First UK Conformity Assessment Certificate

  On March 30, 2021, LEVA-EU member Bafang Electric received a UK Conformity Assessment Marking (UKCA) from TUV SUD Certification and Testing (China) Co., Ltd. (TUV SUD). It indicates that Bafang’s Central Motor Drive System M200 (M200) conforms to the latest market access requirements of the UK. It is also the first UKCA certificate issued by TUV SUD to China’s e-bike industry.

  The UKCA certificate requires that EMC test results of products meet the requirements of EN61000. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) refers to the ability of a device or system to operate in its electromagnetic environment without causing intolerable electromagnetic interference to any other device in its vicinity. With reliable anti-electromagnetic and anti-interference abilities, Bafang’s M200 ensures that it will neither affect the use of other electronic products during its operation, nor lose control due to strong electromagnetic radiation and interference around it, thus providing a safety guarantee for daily cycling.

  In addition, as an entry-level e-city bike product independently developed by Bafang, the M200 is stable, quiet and economical, suitable for e-city bikes and highly popular among OEMs and brand owners. Over the past two years, Bafang’s R&D team has been continuously innovating, optimizing the structure of the M200’s motor transmission parts and achieving almost total silence, without affecting the 250W power output of the motor and strong performance of the system.

  In this respect, Mr. Jiang Huiping, director of Bafang Marketing & Sales Center, said, “The UK is one of the most important and promising markets of Bafang in Europe. Receiving the first UKCA certificate is of great significance for Bafang to further develop its business in the UK market and expand its overseas business. Over the years, Bafang has been committed to providing consumers with safe and high-quality products. In the future, we will continue to set a good example in the industry with high quality and standards, and strive to become No. 1 in more areas, with quality as the cornerstone.”

  

• VanMoof S3 and X3 now work with Apple’s Find My app

  08/04/2021 10:06 Comments Off on VanMoof S3 and X3 now work with Apple’s Find My app

  Source: VanMoof, San Francisco, April 7, 2021 – LEVA-EU member VanMoof is announcing that their S3 and X3 e-bikes ordered from now on, will work with Apple’s Find My app. VanMoof is one of the first e-mobility brands to join Apple’s Find My network. Riders are now able to add their latest VanMoof bikes to the new Items tab in the Find My app, allowing them to find and track their bike in a private and secure way using the vast and global Find My network, made up of hundreds of millions of Apple devices.

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  This integration with Apple’s Find My app fits seamlessly into VanMoof’s vision of the future. “We’re ushering the future of cycling into the present day,” says Ties Carlier, co-founder of VanMoof. “In the near future, when bikes are the primary mode of transportation in cities, this will come in handy as it gives riders around the world peace of mind they’ll be able to swiftly locate their ride.” With the new Items tab in the Find My app, riders can now locate their bike on a map from iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  

  VanMoof is one of the first brands to implement this capability and was able to do so because of its in-house product philosophy and the pre-existing advanced tech of their bikes. The new Find My network accessory program enables third-party companies to build finding capabilities into their products, letting riders use Apple’s Find My app to locate and keep track of their important items.

  The Find My network, a network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices, can locate their e-bike while utilizing all of the network’s built-in privacy and security protections. The Apple Find My network is anonymous and uses advanced encryption. This means that no one else – not even Apple or VanMoof – can view the location of the riders.

  VanMoof has always been actively seeking the best tech offerings in the cycling market. With this new capability, VanMoof has shown it is ready to welcome the future of cycling. The number of e-bikes worldwide has recently increased dramatically; the global e-bike market forecasted to reach $46B+ by 2026. The global e-bike boom has resulted in cities across the world working hard to find spatial solutions to create parking spaces, bike racks, and necessary infrastructure for cyclists.

• Exercise With an Electric Bike? Rad Power Bikes Test Ride Tuesday

  29/03/2021 17:38 Comments Off on Exercise With an Electric Bike? Rad Power Bikes Test Ride Tuesday

  The Scenic Route by Justin Duckham, RPB – Ever wondered what kind of a workout users getting when they take their electric bike out for a spin? LEVA-EU member Rad Power Bikes (RPB) get’s this question regularly. In their previously written blog posts, they debunk the idea that riding an e-bike is cheating and highlight the health benefits they’ve brought to their e-bike riders.  So for this edition of Test Ride Tuesday on 23 March 2021, they ran an experiment because they we wanted to dive a little bit deeper.

  Needless to say, this experiment is far from any ‘’official’’ study and the results will most definitely vary to other tests. For this experiment, they have used run-of-the-mill activity trackers, rode at different speeds and cadences and on different terrain surfaces depending on our comfort levels on a e-bike. All riders were on different Rad bikes and the riders were of wildly different shapes and sizes.

  RPB took five riders and sent them on a 5-mile loop around our their Seattle headquarters, one that included a mix of flats and hills. They assigned each of riders a different level of pedal assist (PAS), which determines how much power the motor supplies. The higher the level of PAS, the more power that comes through when pedalling.

  

  To track how many calories each rider burned, they have been equipped with heart rate monitors. Here’s what the results looked like:

  Results from a 5 mile, mixed-terrain loop over ~ 30-40 minutes. 

  Pedal Assist Level	Rider Height and Weight	Calories Burnt
  Level 1	6’3″, 250 Lbs	325
  Level 2	5’3″, 94 Lbs	121
  Level 3	6’4″, 205 Lbs	183
  Level 4	5’1″, 108 Lbs	98
  Level 5	5’9″, 185 Lbs	179

  In here, there was a little surprise. It is naturally expected that a lower level of pedal assist would automatically equal more calories burned. Interpreting these results, RPB turned to Rad Power Bikes Customer Experience whiz Randy, who’s also a certified personal trainer. “A lot of this comes down to body size, body mass index, and an individual’s cardiovascular health. If you have a greater BMI and are new to getting in shape, you’re going to burn more calories when you ride.”

  Regardless, Randy noted, an e-bike can help you work out. ‘’The results come down to the amount of energy exerted by each rider – no matter what the level of pedal assist is that they’re using.’’ This is determined by intensity, which can be actually measured via something called the Metabolic Equivalent of Task, or MET for short. In a nutshell, this determines the amount of energy a person expends relative to their overall size.

  Scientists use METs to measure all sorts of tasks. When walking around the office, for example, that has an MET value of about 3.5. When riders use  a traditional bicycle, that has an MET value of 6. When riders pedal hard on an electric bike, they can control its MET value. One study said riding an e-bike at a comfortable speed has an average MET value of 5.2 – a little higher than riding a stationary cycle. 

  Source: The Scenic Route.