DIN 31067: A Superfluous Standard That Sows Confusion
Comments Off on DIN 31067: A Superfluous Standard That Sows ConfusionLEVA-EU regularly receives questions about the DIN 31067 standard. This German standard has been in effect since 1 February 2026 and was developed for Electrically Power Assisted Cycles (EPACs) with a serial hybrid (SH) drive system. The standard references the European norm EN 15194 extensively, and its own contribution is essentially limited to a set of electrical requirements.
This raises a legitimate question: why did DIN consider it necessary to publish this standard?
An Redundant Standard
All the electrical requirements and associated tests under clause 4.2 of DIN 31067 are already covered by EN 15194. It is true that EN 15194 was not originally optimised for serial hybrid drives — but that gap has since been addressed by EN 17860-5, which was developed with serial hybrid drives explicitly in mind. It is also worth noting that EN 15194 only applies to conventional two-wheeled EPACs. For electric cargo cycles with two or more wheels, a comprehensive new series of European standards has recently been published under the EN 17860 umbrella. By ignoring this existing framework, DIN 31067 risks adding confusion to a sector that already faces considerable regulatory complexity.
No Legal Standing
DIN 31067 carries no legal weight — not in Germany, and not in any other EU member state. For two-wheeled vehicles, a harmonised standard already exists in the form of EN 15194:2017+A1:2023. Compliance with this harmonised standard grants manufacturers presumption of conformity under the Machinery Directive — and compliance with that Directive is a legal obligation. DIN 31067 offers no equivalent pathway.
As noted, the electrical section of EN 15194 was not originally tailored to serial hybrid architecture. However, EN 17860-5 — the standard covering electrical aspects for e-carrier cycles — has addressed that gap. Manufacturers of SH EPACs would therefore be better served by adopting EN 17860-5. It is a European standard developed through consensus among a broad group of European experts, whereas DIN 31067 is a national standard, published after EN 17860-2 and based on a considerably narrower consultation process.
The Value of European Collaboration
The European standards development process under CEN/TC333 represents a significant collective investment of time and expertise by industry stakeholders across the continent. Publishing a national standard that overlaps with — and potentially contradicts — the recently released EN 17860 series undermines that collaborative effort and risks creating uncertainty among manufacturers, particularly those operating across multiple markets.
In late January 2026, Bike Europe reported that “the new German standard provides legal clarity for serial hybrid e-bikes.” Unfortunately, that conclusion is plainly incorrect. DIN 31067 has no legal standing, and we feel it is important to correct this misunderstanding clearly: it is a national standard only, with no regulatory effect inside or outside Germany.
Broader Knowledge Gaps in the Sector
This episode also highlights a wider problem: significant knowledge gaps persist across the industry when it comes to legislation, regulations and standards. Very recently, LEVA-EU came across a glowing endorsement of DIN 79010 — Cycles: Transport Bikes & Cargo Bikes — on the website of a well-known name in the cargo cycle world. This is striking given that the EN 17860 series for (electric) carrier cycles has been available for some time, yet this prominent manufacturer appears to be unaware of it.
Further confusion is also being generated by two French standards still in circulation: NF R30-050-1, covering cargo bikes, and NF R30-050-3, covering electric trailers..
Conclusion
Clinging to national standards while a large part of the European industry has invested considerable time and resources in developing harmonised European standards is simply not a constructive approach. It discourages the many European experts contributing to TC333, and — most importantly — it sows confusion across the sector. This once again underlines how critical accurate information about legislation, regulations and standards truly is, and that is precisely one of LEVA-EU’s core missions.
