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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Peter Walker Deputy political editor

Ministers to consult on doubling legal wattage of electric bike motors

Close up of an electric bike motor
The consultation will propose doubling the maximum allowed power of an e-bike to 500w, and possibly allowing them to be powered by a throttle, like motorbikes. Photograph: Madina Asileva/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Ministers are to consult on doubling the legal wattage of electric bike motors, despite concerns over road safety and the risk of deadly fires caused by batteries.

The Department for Transport will launch the consultation on Thursday, the Guardian understands, which will propose changing the maximum allowable power of an e-bike motor from 250w to 500w.

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