[daveoc64]

No.

That would not even remotely be classed as an electronic bike in the EU.

It is far too powerful for that.

His electric motorcycle had a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) and a motor power of 15 kW.

The legal limits for a pedelec cycle in the EU are a maximum assisted speed of 15.5 mph (25km/h) and a motor of no more than 250w.

The motor in Simon Cowell's electric motorcycle is 60 times as powerful as the legal limit in the EU

[stevenicr]

thanks for this info!

When I first read the story I had assumed the accident occurred at very slow speed or full stop and mashing the throttle - so the 60mph v 25 would not have been something I would consider..

but 15kW vs 250w - now this is something that makes sense in this scenario for sure!

glad to have learned to eye this metric for this.

[ohmaigad]

The issue is naming - term e-bike is used for everything while most if not all consumer "e-bikes" are actually pedelecs (no throttle, limited to 25kph and 250W, assisting only when pedalling). Every other e-bike is classified as moped/motorcycle which might require licence plate, registration and insurance. At least it should be like that in EU.