Tag Archives: phrases

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Electric Bicycles Not Considered Motorcycles, According to EU Court of Justice

When you hear the term “e-bikes,” what comes to mind? It can vary depending on who you ask. For many people, it refers to electric bicycles that have electric motors as pedal assistance, without eliminating the need for human pedal power.

However, it’s not uncommon to hear people mistakenly use the term “e-bikes” when referring to electric motorcycles. While they are clearly incorrect, their reasoning is understandable. After all, traditional motorcycles are often referred to as “bikes.” So, the confusion isn’t entirely unfounded.

But now, the Court of Justice of the European Union has officially ruled that electric bicycles do not fall under the category of “vehicles” as defined by the EU. On the other hand, motorcycles are certainly considered vehicles. This means that, by legal definition in at least one part of the world, e-bikes are not classified as motorcycles.

The Case at the Court of Justice

On October 12, 2023, the EU Court of Justice made a judgement in a case involving a cyclist who was riding an electric bicycle in Belgium in October 2017. The cyclist was involved in a collision with a car and later passed away from injuries sustained in the accident. The question at hand was whether the e-bike should be considered a “vehicle” under the law, which would require it to be insured like other road-going vehicles.

The electric bicycle in question had a motor that provided pedal assistance and had a boost function, but the boost would only work if the rider initially used human power to get the bike moving.

Prior to this ruling, the legal definition of a “vehicle” did not specify whether it had to be powered solely by mechanical means. However, with this new ruling, the European Parliament will amend the definition of “vehicle” to mean “any motor vehicle propelled exclusively by mechanical power.” This amendment will come into effect on December 23, 2023.

While this precedent could have implications for future cases within the European Union, it remains unclear how it might impact other parts of the world. Nevertheless, if you’re someone who cringes when others use the term “e-bike” to refer to an electric motorcycle, you now have an interesting fact to share.

News

Under the skin: Why cars will become more like smartphones

One of the latest buzz phrases in the car industry is ‘the software-defined car’. While some may not like the sound of it, there are already complaints on social media about buggy car software.

However, cars have been using specialised computers, known as electronic control units (ECUs), since the late 1970s. These ECUs are essentially boxes of hardware running computer code to control various functions in the car.

The first major use of ECUs in cars was to control engines, which greatly improved efficiency and power. Over time, ECUs found their way into other systems such as ABS, lighting, stability control, and transmission controls. Modern cars are filled with ECUs, with some vehicles having nearly 100 of them.

An advantage of using multiple ECUs was reducing the amount of wiring needed, which made cars more complex. Instead of individually wiring each electrical device and its associated components, the introduction of the controller area network (CAN) allowed each ECU to control its own group of equipment using only a few signal wires.

However, with the increasing complexity of cars, a more sophisticated solution is needed. This is where the concept of the software-defined car comes into play. For instance, Renault plans to update its cars throughout their lifetime using a centralised architecture, similar to how smartphones receive updates.

This shift involves going beyond using electronic components to operate car features and allowing them to evolve over time. Renault’s approach includes preventative maintenance, personalisation of interior features, battery charge management, infotainment, and more.

This transition also brings about a significant physical change. Instead of the 60-80 ECUs found in Renault’s cars today, there will be a central computer with excess power and flexibility. This way, it can accommodate future upgrades and handle vast amounts of data.

Renault is collaborating with Qualcomm and Google to develop the CAR OS for this software-defined approach.

Renault is just one example, as the rest of the industry is also moving in this direction. ZF Friedrichshafen, a major supplier and innovator, has created Cubix control software to coordinate and control all chassis actuators directly, including brakes, steer-by-wire, and suspension systems.