Leva

Battery Regulation, EN 50604 and Response to ZIV-Position Take Centre Stage at LEVA-EU Info Meeting

30/06/2025

4 minutes

It was full house at LEVA-EU’s Info-Meeting at Eurobike held on Thursday 26 June. With a packed agenda on the EU’s Battery Regulation, EN 50504 and the German Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV)’s proposal on EPAC legislation, the LEVA-EU team provided valuable fact-based insights to members and participants.

Getting ready for the Battery Regulation and EN 50604

Since 18 February 2024, the EU’s Battery Regulation has been in force, applying to all batteries used in LEVs — including e-bikes, speed pedelecs, electric cargo bikes, and other electric micromobility vehicles. LEVA-EU Managing Director Annick Roetynck delivered a clear and concise overview of the regulation’s scope, obligations, and upcoming deadlines.

She emphasised that the Battery Regulation is not merely another CE marking exercise. Rather, it represents a substantial overhaul of requirements in areas such as design, safety, performance testing, documentation, labelling, traceability, carbon footprint, and recyclability. Importantly, she warned of the risks associated with legal misinterpretation and misinformation, particularly given that several key technical guidelines from EU authorities are still pending clarification. LEVA-EU informs its members and consults with them on the Battery Regulation and battery standards in the Battery Working Group for members.

In addition, participants were briefed on EN 50604-1+A1, the European battery safety standard for light electric vehicles. This standard has been introduced in both the revised EN 15194+A1 and in the 17860-5, the standard on electrical aspects for electric carrier cycles. While not a legal requirement under the Battery Regulation, EN 50604 is a European technical standard used for assessing battery safety and compliance. Annick Roetynck clarified that EN 50604 does not replace the legal obligations under the Battery Regulation. The standard holds specific technical requirements for light electric vehicles, including electric cycles, and thus complements the mechanical part of electric cycle standards such as EN 15194 and EN17860-5.

Clarification on the Industry-Wide Implications of ZIV’s Position on EPACs

The second half of the event focused on LEVA-EU’s analysis of and response to the German Bicycle Industry Association’s (ZIV) proposal on e-bike regulations, presented by Technical Director Bram Rotthier. ZIV is advocating for a narrower definition of Electrically Power Assisted Cycles (EPACs), through limiting peak power and maximum assistance ratio. Such a change would push other LEVs — particularly electric cargo cycles — into the more complex type-approval process. It may also significantly reduce accessibility to e-bikes for riders with limited muscular power and/or a handicap. This proposed shift risks severely impacting the market and hindering innovation.

LEVA-EU calls to always keep the goal of technical legislation in mind: ‘guaranteeing that all vehicles on the road are technically safe’. The major parameters impacting vehicle safety are speed, gross weight and ‘controllability’. Introducing additional parameters should be based on a scientific foundation. LEVA-EU is concerned that a possible limitation of the peak power or the assistance factor is rather a safety risk than a safety measure.

With a better understanding of the proposal’s potential damages to the LEV industry, there was support from a majority of participants for a strong united industry voice that protects innovation, diversity, and fair market access.

For more information about LEVA-EU’s info-meeting, contact us at info@leva-eu.com.

Harold Tor-Daenens

View all posts