Speeding Is Rampant: Speed Limits Remain Ignored
Electric bike speed limits have become mere formalities. Despite being classified as electric bicycles, many models can reach speeds comparable to motorcycles. While the display screen indicates a maximum speed of 25 km/h, they can actually exceed 50 km/h.
Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a draft for the “Safety Technical Specification for Electric Bicycles,” reiterating that the maximum design speed should not exceed 25 km/h. However, our investigation reveals that speeding is widespread, with many retailers continuing to illegally modify speed limits, putting riders at significant safety risk.
**The Problem**
Speed limits seem irrelevant, with some bikes reaching 70 km/h.
“These electric bikes are incredibly fast; it’s common to see them speeding everywhere,” says Ms. Zhang, who purchased an electric bike to make it easier to pick up her child. After getting her bike registered, the shop owner offered to remove the speed limit. Prioritizing safety for her child, she declined. However, after just one day, she was shocked. “Even when I pushed my bike to its limit, many electric bikes zoomed past me. My child couldn’t bear to watch.”
Initially considering the safety of his elderly father, Mr. Cheng also opted not to modify his bike’s speed limit. But after riding it himself, he changed his mind. “I realized it was just too slow, so I went back to the shop to have the speed limit removed.” After modification, he noticed a significant increase in speed, but the display still showed a maximum of 25 km/h.
How fast can a modified bike actually go? Out of curiosity, Ms. Xu tested hers with navigation software. “With just one click, the speed shot up. It can go as fast as 35 km/h. No wonder the navigation estimated a 30-minute bike ride to work, but I made it in just over 20.” Even at this speed, she observed several electric bikes speeding past.
On South Fuchengmen Street, a reporter tested a bike at the 25 km/h limit and was overtaken by more than ten bikes within a few minutes. Many delivery riders, in particular, were moving astonishingly fast.
“My bike’s not even that fast; it’s only about 40 km/h, but I often get overtaken,” one delivery rider shared. “When I bought it, the shop removed the speed limit for me. Regardless of brand, they all go faster once modified. Some can hit speeds of 70-80 km/h, but that’s unsafe. These bikes are only a few dozen kilograms; going too fast can easily cause them to veer and flip, especially during braking.”
During visits to various electric bike retailers, some store owners claimed that the speed achieved after modifying is related to the model, with smaller bikes maxing out at around 30 km/h and larger ones going up to 40 km/h. One shopkeeper noted, “The legal top speed is 25 km/h, but if we all adhered to that, no one would buy these bikes.” He pointed to models in his shop, explaining that after modification, they could reach 50-60 km/h. Yet, regardless of speed, the display remains capped at 25 km/h.
“These bikes are marketed as ‘ideal for delivery; no license needed’,” says an e-commerce platform that openly sells speed-modified electric bikes. Some sellers offer so-called “professional delivery bikes” equipped with high-speed motors. According to customer service, their top-tier models feature 1200W motors capable of reaching 50 km/h, while premium versions with 1500W motors can reach around 70 km/h.
In another shop, customer service claims that their electric bikes have three speed settings: low around 30-35 km/h, medium at 40-45 km/h, and high at 50-55 km/h. “If you want speed, you can go for the high-speed version that reaches 65-75 km/h.”
**Investigation**
Manufacturers provide leeway while stores operate covertly.
How exactly are the speed limits removed? “Electric bicycles typically restrict speed through a controller. If modifications are made to the controller, then speed can exceed the original limits. The maximum speed also depends on the motor’s output power,” says Wu Zhiqin, director of the New Energy Laboratory at the Beijing Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute. Besides hardware modifications, some electric bikes are adjusted through specific software, changing speed limitation parameters.
“There are videos online showing how to modify electric bike speed limits. No matter what speed is achieved, the display remains stuck at 25 km/h,” said a customer service representative from an online retailer, sharing a video demonstrating how to bypass the limits.
“In our store, we handle the modifications for you,” said a salesperson. They explained that while modifying can enhance speed, it also affects battery life. “For instance, a bike that claims to have a 100 km range at 25 km/h may drop to about 50 km if the limit is removed. You still use battery power faster, even if you’re not at maximum speed.”
“Removing speed limits is prohibited; if you choose to have it done, it requires signing a contract. Any subsequent issues are not the shop’s responsibility,” another salesperson warned, noting that methods vary by model. He added that modifications can lead to shorter battery life and instability, making certain functions unusable.
A representative from a certain electric bike manufacturer shared, “Typically, electric bikes are driven by electric currents, controlled through a controller which limits how fast the bike can go. We intentionally leave a buffer in our designs for safety.” They reiterated, “We don’t recommend this; it could negatively impact your overall experience.”
**Caution**
Increased accident risks and potential loss of warranty or fines.
“Excessive speed is the primary cause of traffic accidents,” emphasizes the draft’s commentary on the updates to the “Safety Technical Specification for Electric Bicycles.” The draft emphasizes that exceeding the maximum speed of 25 km/h raises the chance of accidents. In emergencies, riders have minimal time to react, and longer stopping distances can easily lead to collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians, often resulting in serious injuries.
“If a modified bike is involved in an accident, the liability is much greater,” warned one electric bike shop owner. “It’s simple to check the actual speed by measuring the wheel rotation.”
“Removing speed limits can impact battery life and warranty,” a manufacturer representative cautioned. “Even though the display shows a maximum speed of 25 km/h, other speed measuring applications can reveal the bike’s actual speed. Discovery of any modifications can void warranty claims on batteries and other parts.”
“Modifying speed limits is considered unauthorized vehicle alteration and can lead to legal consequences,” the representative added. The company strictly prohibits retailers from making these modifications, and violations will lead to penalties for the stores involved.
According to the “Beijing Non-Motorized Vehicle Management Regulations,” Article 18 clearly prohibits the removal or alteration of speed-limiting devices from electric bicycles after they leave the factory. Moreover, it bans the use of assembled or modified electric bicycles on public roads.
“In this draft of the ‘Safety Technical Specification for Electric Bicycles,’ specific anti-tampering requirements are outlined for batteries, controllers, and speed limiters,” said Wu Zhiqin. The controller anti-tamper requirements forbid modifications like cutting wires or using jumpers, must have over-voltage lock features, and limit devices cannot have backdoors or be altered via decoding or IoT technology. Speed limiters, whether separate or integrated, are also mandated to be incapable of having their limit values altered.
