[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":332},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article-en-pedelec-law":3,"articles-en":235},{"id":4,"title":5,"applies_to":6,"author":8,"body":9,"confidence":211,"description":212,"extension":213,"faq":214,"meta":221,"navigation":222,"path":223,"seo":224,"sources":225,"stem":230,"test_bike":231,"topic":232,"updated":233,"__hash__":234},"content_en\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fpedelec-law.md","Pedelec Law: 250 W, 25 km\u002Fh and Walking Assist",[7],"all","fabio-gentsch",{"type":10,"value":11,"toc":198},"minimark",[12,16,21,85,88,92,101,105,108,112,128,132,139,143,146,150,153,156,169,173,185,191,195],[13,14,15],"p",{},"Your converted bike stays a bicycle in legal terms as long as it is a pedelec: rated continuous power of at most 250 W, assist only while you pedal, and cut-off at 25 km\u002Fh. A walking aid without pedalling is allowed only up to 6 km\u002Fh. Anything beyond that is a motor vehicle. This article is orientation, not legal advice, and it follows the German rules.",[17,18,20],"h2",{"id":19},"the-limits","The limits",[22,23,24,40],"table",{},[25,26,27],"thead",{},[28,29,30,34,37],"tr",{},[31,32,33],"th",{},"Feature",[31,35,36],{},"Pedelec limit",[31,38,39],{},"Beyond it",[41,42,43,55,65,75],"tbody",{},[28,44,45,49,52],{},[46,47,48],"td",{},"Rated continuous power",[46,50,51],{},"at most 250 W",[46,53,54],{},"Motor vehicle",[28,56,57,60,63],{},[46,58,59],{},"Assist",[46,61,62],{},"only while pedalling",[46,64,54],{},[28,66,67,70,73],{},[46,68,69],{},"Cut-off",[46,71,72],{},"at 25 km\u002Fh",[46,74,54],{},[28,76,77,80,83],{},[46,78,79],{},"Walking aid without pedalling",[46,81,82],{},"up to 6 km\u002Fh",[46,84,54],{},[13,86,87],{},"All four points must be true at the same time. It is not enough that the label says 250 W.",[17,89,91],{"id":90},"rated-power-is-not-peak-power","Rated power is not peak power",[13,93,94,95,100],{},"What counts is the rated continuous power: the power the motor can deliver continuously. Peak power may be higher for short periods. Many shops advertise exactly that peak, for instance \"up to 750 W\". So check the data sheet for the figure the kit lists as rated continuous power. If there is none, that is a bad sign. More on the terms in the ",[96,97,99],"a",{"href":98},"\u002Fen\u002Fknowledge\u002Fglossary","glossary",".",[17,102,104],{"id":103},"assist-only-while-pedalling","Assist only while pedalling",[13,106,107],{},"A pedelec helps only when you pedal. When you stop, the motor must switch off. Depending on the kit, a cadence or torque sensor handles that. A kit that keeps driving without pedalling is not a pedelec.",[17,109,111],{"id":110},"_25-kmh","25 km\u002Fh",[13,113,114,115,121,122,127],{},"Assist must end at 25 km\u002Fh. For that the kit has to know the speed. Without a speed sensor it cannot keep to 25 km\u002Fh (",[96,116,120],{"href":117,"rel":118},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.giga.de\u002Ftech\u002Fwer-billig-kauft-kauft-zweimal-diese-fehler-solltet-ihr-vermeiden-wenn-ihr-eurer-fahrrad-zum-e-bike-umbaut--01K0YYJEVGW05AE9TTBCPW0DAM",[119],"nofollow","GIGA","). The sensor is either a spoke magnet or built into the motor. On Bafang controllers you can check the setting with a programming cable (",[96,123,126],{"href":124,"rel":125},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.netzwelt.de\u002Fnews\u002F257770-fahrrad-e-bike-umruesten-systeme-gibt-ab-rund-500-euro-aufwaerts.html",[119],"netzwelt","). After installation, check that assist really stops at 25 km\u002Fh, and leave the setting alone.",[17,129,131],{"id":130},"throttle-and-walking-aid","Throttle and walking aid",[13,133,134,135,138],{},"A throttle is allowed if it works only as a walking aid: without pedalling, up to 6 km\u002Fh at most (",[96,136,120],{"href":117,"rel":137},[119],"). A throttle that drives you at 20 km\u002Fh without pedalling does not fit the pedelec rule. Many kits ship with exactly such a throttle. Leave it off, or use it only where it is allowed.",[17,140,142],{"id":141},"kits-above-250-w","Kits above 250 W",[13,144,145],{},"There are kits with 500, 750 or 1,000 W and more. On public roads and cycle paths they are not permitted as pedelecs. For them, private land is what remains. If you want to ride a more powerful system, you need a vehicle with the proper approval, which is a different topic altogether. Type approval, registration, plates or insurance plates and a driving licence then apply. Which class exactly applies is something you clarify with the registration authority.",[17,147,149],{"id":148},"insurance-and-registration-in-general","Insurance and registration in general",[13,151,152],{},"A pedelec needs no registration, no plate and no driving licence. A motor vehicle does. After an accident, the question of whether your bike was still a pedelec can quickly become decisive. If it was not, insurance cover may be missing, and you would be riding without compulsory insurance. That is not a minor matter. When in doubt, ask your liability or household insurer and get in writing what applies. Whether your conversion kit comes with a declaration of conformity is a useful hint, but it does not replace your own check.",[13,154,155],{},"What you need:",[157,158,159,163,166],"ul",{},[160,161,162],"li",{},"The kit's data sheet stating rated continuous power",[160,164,165],{},"Proof that assist cuts off at 25 km\u002Fh",[160,167,168],{},"No throttle that drives above 6 km\u002Fh",[17,170,172],{"id":171},"what-this-means-for-your-conversion","What this means for your conversion",[13,174,175,176,180,181,100],{},"Choose a kit that is explicitly described as a 250 W pedelec system, check the cut-off after installation and let the throttle run only as a walking aid. Budget kits without clear specifications are risky. How that affects the price is covered under ",[96,177,179],{"href":178},"\u002Fen\u002Fknowledge\u002Fcosts","costs",". For how the motors are built, see ",[96,182,184],{"href":183},"\u002Fen\u002Fknowledge\u002Fmotor-types","motor types",[13,186,187],{},[96,188,190],{"href":189},"\u002Fen\u002Fconfigurator","Does a conversion fit your bike?",[17,192,194],{"id":193},"how-reliable-is-this","How reliable is this?",[13,196,197],{},"The limits of 250 W, 25 km\u002Fh and 6 km\u002Fh and the role of the speed sensor come from the linked sources and the current pedelec rule. The notes on insurance and registration are general orientation without legal advice, and in a particular case what the authority and your insurer say is what counts.",{"title":199,"searchDepth":200,"depth":200,"links":201},"",2,[202,203,204,205,206,207,208,209,210],{"id":19,"depth":200,"text":20},{"id":90,"depth":200,"text":91},{"id":103,"depth":200,"text":104},{"id":110,"depth":200,"text":111},{"id":130,"depth":200,"text":131},{"id":141,"depth":200,"text":142},{"id":148,"depth":200,"text":149},{"id":171,"depth":200,"text":172},{"id":193,"depth":200,"text":194},"source","What a conversion may do legally: 250 W rated power, assist only while pedalling up to 25 km\u002Fh, walking assist up to 6 km\u002Fh and what lies beyond.","md",[215,218],{"q":216,"a":217},"How powerful may a pedelec be?","Rated continuous power may be at most 250 W. Assist may only work while you pedal and must cut off at 25 km\u002Fh.",{"q":219,"a":220},"May I fit a throttle?","Only as a walking aid up to 6 km\u002Fh. A throttle that drives you beyond that without pedalling turns the bike into a motor vehicle.",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fpedelec-law",{"title":5,"description":212},[226,228],{"title":227,"url":117},"GIGA: mistakes when converting to an e-bike",{"title":229,"url":124},"netzwelt: converting a bike to an e-bike","en\u002Fwissen\u002Fpedelec-law",null,"pedelec-recht","2026-11-09","Gw-lSgR5agAxqVhZCTvMFrl6KLuyDP5BEudIXI7BQn4",[236,243,249,255,261,267,273,279,285,293,300,306,312,314,320,326],{"path":237,"title":238,"description":239,"topic":240,"applies_to":241,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fbattery","E-Bike Battery for a Conversion: Position, Space, Range","Where the battery fits on a converted bike, how to measure the space, what branded cells bring, real-world range and how to dispose of it.","akku",[7],"assumption",{"path":244,"title":245,"description":246,"topic":247,"applies_to":248,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fbrakes","Brakes for an E-Bike Conversion: What You Need","Rim or disc, cut-off levers and sensors: which brakes are enough for a 250 W pedelec and when an upgrade is needed.","bremsen",[7],{"path":250,"title":251,"description":252,"topic":253,"applies_to":254,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fcoaster-brake","Coaster Brake and E-Bike Conversion: What Works","A coaster brake is the most common deal-breaker. Which motors work, where coaster-brake variants exist and when to leave it.","ruecktrittbremse",[7],{"path":256,"title":257,"description":258,"topic":259,"applies_to":260,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fcommon-problems","Common Problems After an E-Bike Conversion","Axle spinning, broken spokes, motor cutting out, jerky starts, fast chain wear: causes and fixes from everyday conversions.","haeufige-probleme",[7],{"path":262,"title":263,"description":264,"topic":265,"applies_to":266,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fconvert-bike-to-ebike","Convert a Bike to an E-Bike: Overview and Steps","What a conversion costs, which motor fits, what the law says and when you should buy a used e-bike instead. An honest overview from the workshop.","fahrrad-zum-e-bike-umbauen",[7],{"path":268,"title":269,"description":270,"topic":271,"applies_to":272,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fcosts","What Does an E-Bike Conversion Really Cost?","Cost items at a glance: kit EUR 400 to 1,700, brakes, tools, small parts. Plus the comparison with used and new (about EUR 2,500) and the cost calculator.","kosten",[7],{"path":274,"title":275,"description":276,"topic":277,"applies_to":278,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fframe-and-weight","Frame and Weight: Which Bike Suits a Conversion","Steel and aluminium are usually fine, carbon is not. Plus the magnet test, total weight, warranty and the wear parts to replace before converting.","rahmen-und-gewicht",[7],{"path":280,"title":281,"description":282,"topic":283,"applies_to":284,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fglossary","E-Bike Conversion Glossary: Terms Explained","Rated power, volts, watt-hours, newton metres, PAS, torque sensor, Higo and Julet, controller and display: the glossary for e-bike conversions.","begriffe",[7],{"path":286,"title":287,"description":288,"topic":289,"applies_to":290,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fhub-spacing","Hub Spacing and Axles for an E-Bike Conversion","How to measure hub spacing, quick release versus thru-axle, spreading 130 to 135 mm on steel frames and what to watch with dropouts.","einbaubreite",[291,292],"front","rear",{"path":294,"title":295,"description":296,"topic":297,"applies_to":298,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fmeasure-bottom-bracket","Measure Your Bottom Bracket for a Mid-Drive","How to measure shell width and bore of your bottom bracket and tell BSA 68\u002F73, Pressfit and BB30 apart. Step by step for a mid-drive motor.","tretlager-messen",[299],"mid",{"path":301,"title":302,"description":303,"topic":304,"applies_to":305,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fmid-drive-vs-hub-motor","Mid-Drive or Hub Motor: What Suits You?","Ride feel, hills, gears, installation and cost compared, with a clear guide to when a mid-drive and when a front or rear hub motor makes sense.","mittelmotor-oder-nabenmotor",[299,291,292],{"path":307,"title":308,"description":309,"topic":310,"applies_to":311,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fmotor-types","E-Bike Conversion Motor Types Compared","Front, rear and mid-drive motors, friction rollers and seat-tube motors compared: feel, installation, cost and which bikes suit which.","motorarten",[7],{"path":223,"title":5,"description":212,"topic":232,"applies_to":313,"confidence":211,"updated":233,"author":8},[7],{"path":315,"title":316,"description":317,"topic":318,"applies_to":319,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Ftools","Tools for an E-Bike Conversion: The List","Which tools you need for front, rear and mid-drive conversions and what kits usually lack, above all the lockring tool.","werkzeug",[7],{"path":321,"title":322,"description":323,"topic":324,"applies_to":325,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Ftorque-arm","Torque Arm: When You Need One","Why the axle of a hub motor turns in the dropout, when you need a torque arm and how to fit it.","drehmomentstuetze",[291,292],{"path":327,"title":328,"description":329,"topic":330,"applies_to":331,"confidence":242,"updated":233,"author":8},"\u002Fen\u002Fwissen\u002Fwheel-sizes","Wheel Sizes and ETRTO for E-Bike Conversions","Inches are unreliable, ETRTO is not: how to read wheel size off the tyre and avoid the 635\u002F622 and 406\u002F451 traps.","laufradgroessen",[291,292],1794247507464]