Open Letter Sent to ZIV: 196 Signatures From 22 Countries

Open Letter To:

• The German Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV)
• The Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI)
• The European Commission

Do not let Europe become the desert of light electric mobility innovations

Over the past decade, Electrically Power Assisted Cycles (EPACs) have achieved remarkable success in Europe. This success has not been the result of alleged “legal equivalence with bicycles,” as recently claimed by ZIV, but rather of the decision by all member states to grant EPACs the same terms of use as conventional bicycles.

ZIV is wrongfully trying to create the impression that this decision resulted from the exclusion of EPACs from Regulation 168/2013, which governs type-approval for L-category vehicles. That is exactly why ZIV fails to mention that other vehicles have also been granted the same traffic rules as conventional bicycles. For example, in Belgium this applies to electric scooters, to 25 km/h and 1 kW L1e-A powered cycles and to a large degree also to Speed Pedelecs. In other words, that decision by the Member States was independent of the technical legislation for EPACs or any other Light Electric Vehicle (LEV).

On 7 April 2025, ZIV published its position paper “E-bikes – Active Mobility as Success Factor”. ZIV’s proposal would impose arbitrary restrictions on EPACs—such as limits on assistance ratios, peak power, and vehicle weight—and would force many EPACs into the L-category type-approval system under Regulation 168/2013.

If implemented, this proposal would:

• Eliminate entire categories of LEVs essential for sustainable logistics, accessibility, and mobility innovation;
• Discriminate against elderly, disabled, and physically weaker users by restricting access to vehicles that meet their mobility needs;
• Obstruct European innovation and competitiveness, protecting incumbents while sidelining new entrants and technologies;
• Undermine the EU‚Äôs climate and mobility goals by reducing the modal shift potential of LEVs and stifling their contribution to decarbonisation.

The deeper structural problem

The present split between Regulation 168/2013 and the Machinery Directive already constitutes an infringement of the principle of technology neutrality enshrined in EU law.

Article 114 TFEU obliges the Union to adopt harmonisation measures that ensure the proper functioning of the internal market, without creating unjustified obstacles or distortions. Article 173 TFEU commits the Union to industrial policies that strengthen the competitiveness of European industry. Together, these provisions enshrine the requirement that EU legislation must not discriminate between technologies that deliver the same function or carry the same risk profile.

Today, vehicles with identical weight and speed — and therefore identical risks — are regulated under entirely different regimes depending on arbitrary technical parameters such as motor power. For example, a 250W EPAC is excluded from type-approval and placed on the market via self-certification under the Machinery Directive, while an otherwise identical 300W vehicle must undergo costly and unsuitable type-approval under Regulation 168/2013. This regulatory split is neither proportionate nor neutral, and it undermines competitiveness and innovation across the LEV sector.

Technology neutrality and the right policy instruments

Technical legislation is purpose-limited: it must ensure product safety and a well-functioning internal market, and it must remain technology neutral. It may not be used to steer user behaviour or to “encourage active travel” by constraining technical parameters (e.g., assistance ratios, peak power, weight) unrelated to intrinsic product safety.

Promoting active mobility is a legitimate public objective, but it should be pursued through appropriate instruments—including fiscal and financial incentives, public procurement, infrastructure investment, and education—not by distorting technical rules for LEVs. Using product legislation to engineer behaviour would violate technology neutrality, reduce accessibility, and unfairly disadvantage many legitimate LEV use-cases (logistics, inclusivity, terrain).

A dedicated LEV Regulation is the right remedy: it would remove the structural breach of technology neutrality and ensure that all Light Electric Vehicles are regulated according to their real safety and use characteristics, not outdated or arbitrary distinctions.

We, the undersigned, therefore:

Call on CONEBI not to support this proposal and on ZIV to immediately withdraw the ZIV proposal as it represents a narrow industrial agenda that is harmful to Europe’s broader sustainability, competitiveness, and mobility goals.

Call on the European Commission not to follow ZIV’s proposal but instead to build on the recommendations of the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) and work with the LEV community on a dedicated LEV Regulation. Such a framework would finally correct the breach of technology neutrality inherent in the current regulatory split and enable a fair, innovation-friendly, and future-proof market for light electric mobility in Europe.

Signatories LEVA-EU Open LetterBusiness/OrganisationNameJob TitleCountryTypeGran Tourismo Bike GmbHMartin EdelsbrunnerAssistant ManagerATLEVsBrussels MobilityMartin LefrancqNew Mobility Senior Policy AdvisorBPublic authorityElhe Globe bv/vanmoofista.beElisa LongoMDBLEVsEpac ProducerBenjamin DeclercqFounderBLEVsFietstaxi BVJohan De RuyckFounderBLEV ServiceFlywheels nvPatrick De CoomanCEOBLEVsGhent UniversityAlex Van den BosscheEm.prof.dr.ir.BAcademicIntuEdriveSimon ForrezDevelopperBLEVsIntuEdrive/Ellio BikesJorrit HeidbuchelCEO & Co-FounderBLEVsIntuEdrive/Ellio BikesTomas KeppensCTOBLEVSKlimaatpuntHendrik BallegeerPresidentBOtherLEVA-EUAnnick RoetynckManaging DirectorBAssociationLEVA-EUBram RotthierTechnical DirectorBAssociationLVL Group SRL - AmpyreArnaud LegrandCEOBLEVsLVL Group SRL - AmpyreKenny LatommeCo-OwnerBLEVsSBSEdward EcclestonSBS-ExpertBAssociationThompson nvIsabel De SmetGeneral ManagerBLEVsThompson nvTim De SmetCEOBLEVsUzeDavid CoertjensHead of BusinessBLEV ServiceVrije Universiteit BrusselPeter Van den BosscheProfessorBAcademicGreenwayDamian AreggerElectrical EngineerCHLEVsKyburz AGMartin KyburzCEOCHLEVsMicro Mobility Systems /MicrolinoOliver OuboterCOOCHLEVsRevolt ZyclingGeorge MerachtsakisCEOCHLEVsSeries Hybrid Cycle PioneerAndreas FuchsPhysicist, PhD,Master in Medical Physics / Rehabilitation EngineeringCHAcademicYakbikeCédric FlüeliCEOCHLEVsGobao Electronic Technology GmbHJack BrandsenChief Strategy OfficerCNLEV components4EVER s.r.o.Radim BrozCEOCZLEVsekolo.cz s.r.o.Jakub DitrichManaging DirectorCZLEVsKatanga s.r.oStephane BovingManagerCZLEVsLevit s.r.o.Kateřina VlčkováQuality SpecialistCZLEVsAES Akku Energie Systeme GmbHMatthias BehlkeCEODLEV componentsAvinoxFerdinand WolfProduct Experience DirectorDLEV componentsBikeshopJörn LehmannOwnerDLEVsCengaloThomas ReinhardtManagerDLEVsDJIMatteo NataleSenior Regulatory Compliance ManagerDLEV componentsDos Caballos GmbHMarcCEODLEVsDWBoris GeilertPicture EditorDOtherDynamic Drives Giessen GmbHAnton PapenfussCEODLEV componentsFahrrad Franz GmbHFlorian SchäferCEODLEVsFahrrad Franz GmbHMaximilian JansenPurchaserDLEVsFahrrad KaiserMathias KaiserManagerDLEVsFahrrad XXL Feld GmbHNicholas FeldManagerDLEVsFahrrad XXL Feld GmbHPeter FeldManagerDLEVsFahrrad XXL FranzAlexander LoosPurchaserDLEVsFahrrad XXL WalcherMarkus WalcherCEODLEVsFulmo Kurierunion GbrLeon ImeriCoordinatorDLEVs + LEV ServiceFulmo VelobilityTilman KedingHead of EngineeringDLEVs + LEV ServiceHeinzmannAlexander HermTechnical Director Electric DrivesDLEV componentsHeiss GmbH Das RadcenterFlorian HeissManagerDLEVsHypabox c/o Bächer Bergmann GmbHSebastian BächerCEODLEV componentsKulms EngineeringStefan KulmsProduct Development ExpertDOtherMario's Bike GmbHDennis WauchAssistant General ManagerDLEVsMetrucks GmbHDr. Nicole MenonCEODLEVsMetrucks GmbHSrinath MenonFounder & CEODLEVsMotionLab BerlinChristoph NeyeFounderDOtherMotofocker VelocarMaté FockOwner, designerDLEVsMovaria GmbHBastian BienerProject ManagerDLEV componentsMovaria GmbHFelix BallendatCEODLEV componentsMovaria GmbHGeorg MüllerService EngineerDLEV componentsMovaria GmbHJulian SerbanProduction TechnicianDLEV componentsMovaria GmbHLenz KarbaumerSoftware EngineerDLEV componentsMovaria GmbHMax HerbstIT ManagerDLEV componentsMovaria GmbHMoritz SeibtTechnical EditorDLEV componentsMovaria GmbHSara LoebleinExecutive AssistantDLEV componentsMovaria GmbHSimon MantheEngineerDLEV componentsMuhr und Bender KG - Business Unit MicromobilityKonrad SchlösserManaging DirectorDLEVsN.A.Jens HöffgenSolar Bicycle PilotDOtherPanicke GbRIngrid PanickeOwner/DevelopmentDOtherPedilio Solar Velomobil GmbHThomas ViebachCEO DevelopmentDLEVsPrivate citizenAlexander GregorMusic TeacherDOtherRad-Sportshop OdenwaldbikeTord SteinbockCEODLEVsRikCarGünther VehnsElektro- & IT-MeisterDLEVsSEG AutomotiveTobias NowakHead of Light Electric Mobility - EuropeDLEV ServiceThe Urban Idea GmbHKonrad Otto-ZimmermannCreative Director & Authorized RepresentativeDOtherVelocar.netStefan SchmidtWebmaster, mechanic & userDLEVsVeloxiterJörg KlenkeDevelopperDLEVsVeloxiterMarc SchlüterDevelopperDLEVsXYZ CargoTill WolferCEODLEVsZemmi GmbHHelge NeubauerCEODLEVsZweirad JoosChristoph AlffManagerDLEVsViridus Manufacturing A/SBjarne LykkegaardQuality ManagerDKLEV componentsVok BikesIndrek PetjärvCEOEELEVsFEVEMPAntonio Gómez MurianaConsultantESAssociationMothiumSergio GonzalezCEOESLEVsNiche Mobility SLMarc BarcelóCEO & FounderESLEV componentsADEMEGabriel PlassatXD ProjectFPublic authorityAteliers LucianoFrancisco LucianoCo GérantFLEVsAVELI - association des acteurs des véhicules légers intermédiairesNicolas le douarecPresidentFAssociationAVPSBernard CauquilAdvisorFLEV ServiceBIKLOOWOlivier BongardOwnerFLEVsBluemoooov EuropeEmmanuel ParisCEOFLEVsBluemooov EuropeChristine VieiraCommercialFLEVsCaminadeBrice EpaillyCEOFLEVsCixiAlexander KollHead of DACH RegionFLEV componentsCIXIPierre FrancisCEOFLEV componentsConcerned citizenOlivier GuyotStandardisation specialistFDouze CyclesThomas CoulbeautCEOFLEVsEco-TriporteurGuillaume DelanoeManaging DirectorFLEVsERKA Industries SASRémi KneppertPrésidentFLEVsE-ROE MobilityJean-Philippe BanquetCEOFLEVsEV4 FrancePatrick TonnelierCo-fondateurFLEVsFrance Quadricycle (Ouicycle)Matthieu SpillmannPDGFLEVsHelio2Antoine D'AcremontGérant - DirecteurFLEVsHPR SolutionsDominique GirardCEO & Co-FounderFLEVsHPR SolutionsThierry RouxelManaging DirectorFLEVsKarbikesLucas VanconCEOFLEVsLuz'InJulia SorlinDirectriceFOtherNokiaOlivier GuyotSustainability Standardisation SpecialistFOtherPRAXJean Baptiste LigouyManagerFLEVsSanka CycleBenoit TholenceCEOFLEVSSanka CycleJosselin SalmonGeneral ManagerFLEVsSupercycleJean DardDesignerFLEVsSykloYanni RouaCEOFLEVsVélo Solaire Pour Tous (Vhélio)Marc LaurençonBénévoleFLEVsVoltRMaxime BleskineCEOFLEV componentsFennobikes Oy LtdJari KomulainenCEOFILEVsHelkamaMarko MehtonenProduct Development EngineerFILEVsHelkamaPetteri VairioDirector, R&DFILEVsNorland DynamicsMaximilian-Peter Werner Von SpeyerFounderFILEVsOuca Bikes OyJani SipiläCOOFILEVsOuca Bikes OyTomi LaaksolaCOBFILEVsOuca Bikes OyTuomas AlapuranenCEOFILEVsE-Magine RidesBence GosztonyiCEOHUOtherUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaLaura PoAssociate ProfessorIAcademicHL Mando Corp.Jaehyung ChunSPM Team LeaderKRLEV components040FietsServiceMarcel VerwimpDirector/OwnerNLLEVsAlligtLeo VisscherOwner/DirectorNLLEV componentsCargo Bike Mobility BVFrank OudegeestCEONLLEVsDe fietsfabriekArtur Margarida LopesCompany OwnerNLLEVsDe fietsfabriekMyrthe ten BroekOffice ManagerNLLEVsDesign Office PetersProjects BVPeter van der VeerCEONLOtherDragonfly's EngineeringEduart StigterEngineerNLOtherFietsenmakers Product DeveloppersJohannes KooijmanOwnerNLLEVsFlevobike TechnologyAndre VrielinkCompany OwnerNLLEVsFontys Engineering EindhovenAuke VisserInnovator/developper/teacherNLAcademicFriesland Lease B.V.Lars DekkerMobiliteitsexpert Fleetsales & Cargo BikesNLLEV ServiceFulpraMichel van EijnattenCGONLLEVsHukaKris SonnebornQHSE-ManagerNLLEVsHukaRob LotgerinkManaging DirectorNLLEVsIdbikeBas d'HerriponDirectorNLLEV componentsLevel OneLeon WestenbergOwner/founderNLLEV ServiceNavee TechArnold BritstraCountry Manager BeneluxNLLEVsNijland Cycling B.V.Jeroen BeumerCommercial DirectorNLLEVsNijland Cycling B.V.Koen NijlandDirectorNLLEVsNijland Cycling B.V.Luuk NijlandDirectorNLLEVsNijland Cycling B.V.Willy NijlandDirectorNLLEVsQ squareHan GoesManaging ConsultantNLLEV ServiceRideTodayJurjen VellingaTCO LeadNLLEV ServiceRood-Runner Nederland B.V.Jean-Pierre VosFounder & OwnerNLLEVsSantos BikesRobbert RutgrinkDirectorNLLEVsSpeed Pedelec EvolutionJos AertsFounderNLLEV ServiceSpringtimeMarcel SchreuderManaging PartnerNLOtherStoer BikesJoeri VisserFounderNLLEVsvan Raam mobilityJan-Willem BoezelCEONLLEVsVanMoofEliott WertheimerCEONLLEVsEcobikeGrzegorz SzczygielCEOPLLEVsCastros IlluminacoesWilliam SoaresInvestigatorPTOtherUniversity Politehnica of BucharestProf. Grigore DanciuProfessorROAcademicJMK InnovationMikael KjellmanVelomobile DesignerSEOtherLuvlyHåkan LutzCEOSELEVsVelove Bikes ABDennis KanterChief Product Officer/Co-FounderSELEVsFairly Bike Manufacturing Co. LtdPercy ChienExecutive ChairmanTWLEVsMeridaSharon ChenSenior Sales ManagerTWLEVsNKLYuhung LiProduct ManagerTWLEV componentsBlue Sky IPEan BrownCEOUKOtherCycling Made Easy LtdTony WadeDirector of operationsUKLEVse-WerxMuddasar AkramFounderUKOtherIceni Cycles LtdRichard GrigsbyManaging DirectorUKLEVsLight Mobility Association UKCamilla IftakharDirectorUKAssociationMinimalJessica RidlerEngineering Project ManagerUKLEVsMotiveXQDel DelaRondeCEOUKLEVsSkarperAdam RozenbergHead of OpsUKLEV componentsSkarperAndy DurnanHead of Mechanical EngineeringUKLEV componentsSkarperHarry BrownCustomer Support LeadUKLEV componentsSkarperJessica NguyenMechanical Test EngineerUKLEV componentsSkarperJonathan Lemze-WellsHead of MarketingUKLEV componentsSkarperLiban OlaadSenior QA EngineerUKLEV componentsSkarperManon CamousHead of QualityUKLEV componentsSkarperMareks ZevaldsMechanical EngineerUKLEV componentsSkarperMichael DouglasHead of EngineeringUKLEV componentsSkarperNur KostChief of StaffUKLEV componentsSkarperOliver JoyceDesign EngineerUKLEV componentsSkarperRan PeledHead of DesignUKLEV componentsSkarperSuzanne BrownEvent ManagerUKLEV componentsSkarperThomas MallinsonDesignerUKLEV componentsSkarperUri MeirovichCo-founder & COOUKLEV componentsVolt BikesJames MetcalfeDirectorUKLEVsFernhayPeter SchenkmanCOOUSALEVsSuper73Sandra SchmidtDirector of International OperationsUSALEVsUnited Mobility IncRico Meier RingroseDirector of market & product development - EuropeUSALEVsKliche & FriendsLaura KlicheAssistantZALEVsKliche & FriendsLinda KlicheDirectorZALEVsKliche & FriendsLuisa KlicheWebdesignZALEVsKliche & FriendsUwe KlicheMDZALEVsLumiere TechnologiesUlrich LorenzenCTO, CEOZALEVs