We see them everywhere. On cycle paths, in city centres, on country roads. The electric bike has become a daily companion for millions of Europeans. Faster, more inclusive, often more practical than a conventional bicycle. In short, a soft mobility tool that ticks all the boxes.
But in Brussels, they're thinking about reframing it. Officially, it's only a technical revision of Regulation 168/2013. In reality, it's a change of direction that could reshuffle the cards for hundreds of thousands of users. Because in some versions of the project, some e-bikes could lose their bicycle status. And become... mopeds.
Behind the reform, a ridge line
To understand what's at stake, we need to go back to the current rules. Today, an electrically assisted bicycle is considered a bicycle – in the legal sense – if three conditions are met: the motor only activates when pedaling, it cuts off above 25 km/h, and it does not exceed 250 W of continuous power. By respecting this, there is no need for registration, insurance, or mandatory helmets.
The problem: more and more models are flirting with these limits. Some clearly exceed them. Others are unbridled by their owners. As a result, for the authorities, the line between bicycle and moped is becoming blurred.
The Commission's tone is set. It would not be a question of attacking everyday e-bikes, but of "better regulating emerging uses." Understand: overpowered fatbikes, XXL cargo bikes, or DIY machines using 1000W kits purchased online.
But in reality, the revision could be broader. And that's where tensions are rising.
From cycle paths to license plates?
Behind the scenes, several scenarios are being studied. Among them, a partial reclassification: e-bikes exceeding a certain weight, a certain power, or capable of riding without pedaling, would be classified in a new category similar to mopeds.
Consequences? License plates, approved helmets, compulsory insurance, bans on using cycle paths... In short, ease of use is disappearing.
"We're taking an accessible, ecological mobility tool and we're going to impose the constraints of a thermal two-wheeler on it," whispers a member of the European Federation of Bicycle Users.
And this isn't a rumor: the public consultation launched in October 2024 by the Commission clearly mentions these options. Organizations such as ZIV (the cycle industry in Germany) and CONEBI (at the European level) have reacted en masse, arguing for a new intermediate category. A sort of “VAE+” with power up to 750 W but flexible rules maintained.
In the background: safety
The issue, of course, is not just administrative. It is also – and above all – political. The number of accidents involving e-bikes has increased sharply in major European cities. Figures often brandished by those calling for reform.
But the causes are multiple: unbridled use, lack of infrastructure, poorly thought-out coexistence between bicycles, pedestrians, and cars. And above all: a regulatory vacuum regarding new types of vehicles, between bicycles, scooters, and mopeds. Europe is trying to clarify this. But by trying to classify everything, we risk creating new gray areas.
What is most worrying is the impact on actual uses. For many households, the e-bike has become an economical alternative to the car. Imposing a helmet, insurance, or a ban on riding on trails would be seen as a punishment. A direct obstacle to the transition to soft mobility.
"It's not the cargo delivery drivers who are causing the problem, but the machines that are cobbled together or sold without a clear framework," summarizes one industry professional. What those on the ground are asking for is not to tighten up for everyone, but to better control what goes beyond the framework.
Nothing has been finalized, but...
To date, European Regulation 168/2013 is still in force. The Commission has not yet published a formal text, and any reform will have to go through Parliament and the Member States. The timeline is unclear, and there will likely be some back-and-forth. But the debate is definitely open.
For users, the challenge is clear: defending a simple, practical, and accessible mobility model. For institutions, it's about adapting a ten-year-old framework to a rapidly changing reality. One thing is certain: the coming months will be decisive.
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