What began as an alternative means of transportation quickly became part of the everyday landscape of European cities.

However, this rapid adoption also raised an inevitable question: how fast should these vehicles be allowed to travel?

The answer was an international consensus that set the limit at 25 km/h, a figure now shared by most European countries and which also applies to electrically assisted pedal cycles (EPACs). But why exactly 25 km/h? Is it an arbitrary number? Could it change in the coming years?

The early years: a market without clear regulations

Between 2015 and 2019, the market for personal mobility vehicles (PMVs) grew explosively. Thousands of electric scooters began circulating in cities, while electric bicycles gained popularity among people looking for a convenient and sustainable way to travel.

The problem was that each manufacturer offered different maximum speeds:

- Scooters limited to 20 km/h.

- Others capable of reaching 35 km/h.

- Some even exceeded 50 km/h.

This lack of uniformity created challenges for:

- Coexistence with pedestrians.

- Road safety.

- Insurance companies.

- Legislation.

- Manufacturers themselves.

It became clear that a common standard was needed.

Why was 25 km/h chosen?

Although it may seem like a round number, the 25 km/h limit is the result of balancing safety and practicality.

Studies carried out by various European organizations highlighted several important factors.

1. Impact energy increases very rapidly

Kinetic energy does not increase linearly with speed—it increases with the square of the speed.

This means that:

- At 25 km/h, a collision can already cause serious injuries.

- At 35 km/h, the impact energy increases by approximately 96%.

- At 45 km/h, it is nearly three times greater than at 25 km/h.

Reducing speed by just 10 km/h can make a significant difference in the severity of an accident.

2. It matches the typical speed of a bicycle

An experienced cyclist usually travels at:

- Between 18 and 25 km/h in urban areas.

- Between 25 and 30 km/h on open roads.

Therefore, setting the limit at 25 km/h allows conventional bicycles, electric bicycles, and scooters to share the same space while traveling at relatively similar speeds.

This greatly improves safety and coexistence on bike lanes and urban roads.

3. It avoids requiring moped-level construction

At higher speeds, additional requirements begin to appear:

- Much more powerful brakes.

- Higher-quality suspension systems.

- Specialized tires.

- Stiffer frames.

- Greater rider protection.

In other words, once a vehicle regularly travels above 30–35 km/h, it starts to resemble a moped more than a bicycle.

This brings additional technical and legal requirements.

4. It simplifies harmonized regulations across Europe

One of the European Union's main objectives has been to harmonize regulations.

For electrically assisted bicycles, there was already a clear benchmark:

- Motor with a maximum continuous rated power of 250 W.

- Assistance only while pedaling.

- Motor assistance cuts off at 25 km/h.

Maintaining the same limit for other light electric vehicles made legislation considerably simpler.

Why can a conventional bicycle exceed 25 km/h?

This is one of the most common questions.

The key point is that the limit applies to motor assistance, not to the vehicle's actual speed.

An electric bicycle can continue accelerating beyond 25 km/h if the rider pedals hard enough or is traveling downhill.

The only difference is that the motor stops providing assistance.

For this reason, it is perfectly normal to see electric bicycles traveling at 30 or even 35 km/h without violating any regulations.

Is the limit too low?

This has become an increasingly active debate.

Those who support raising the limit argue that:

- Modern bike lanes are designed for higher speeds.

- Many conventional bicycles can already exceed 25 km/h with ease.

- On longer commutes, limiting motor assistance reduces the efficiency of daily transportation.

- A slightly higher speed would make replacing cars with bicycles even more attractive.

On the other hand, supporters of the current limit point out that:

- Most urban accidents occur in shared spaces.

- Higher speeds significantly increase the severity of injuries.

- Protecting pedestrians remains a top priority.

- Current infrastructure is not designed for much higher travel speeds.

What changes could happen over the next decade?

Although an immediate change to the general urban 25 km/h limit appears unlikely, several trends could influence future regulations.

1. Different limits for cities and bicycle highways

More and more cities are building true "cycling highways" with wide lanes, separated from motor traffic and featuring very few intersections.

In these environments, regulators could consider allowing higher speeds for certain types of vehicles.

2. New categories of electric bicycles

Currently, there are two main categories:

- EPAC bicycles limited to 25 km/h.

- Speed Pedelecs, with motor assistance up to 45 km/h, classified as mopeds and subject to requirements such as registration, insurance, and an approved helmet.

In the future, some experts have suggested creating an intermediate category—for example, with motor assistance up to 30 or 32 km/h—combined with specific technical requirements.

For now, however, this remains a topic of discussion, and no formal regulatory proposal has been established.

3. Smarter electronic assistance systems

Electric assistance technology is evolving rapidly.

It is easy to imagine bicycles capable of automatically adapting their maximum assisted speed according to their surroundings:

- 15 km/h in pedestrian areas.

- 25 km/h in cities.

- Higher speeds only on infrastructure specifically designed for them, if future legislation allows it.

Geolocation and connectivity technologies already make this type of solution technically feasible.

Will 25 km/h remain the standard?

All signs suggest yes, at least for the next few years.

The 25 km/h limit has proven to provide a reasonable balance between:

- Safety.

- Ease of use.

- Manufacturing costs.

- Compatibility with urban infrastructure.

- Harmonized regulations across European countries.

Nevertheless, the continued growth of electric mobility, improvements in cycling infrastructure, and ongoing technological advances could eventually lead to more flexible regulations for certain types of roads or vehicles.

Conclusion

The 25 km/h limit was not an arbitrary decision. It is the result of years of experience in urban mobility and the search for a balance between safety, efficiency, and regulatory simplicity.

As cities continue to evolve and electric bicycles become firmly established as one of the most sustainable forms of transportation, the debate is likely to reopen. However, any future changes will need to ensure that innovation is always accompanied by safe and responsible mobility.

At Bewatt, we believe the future of electric bicycles lies in combining technology, comfort, and full compliance with current regulations.