Taipei, Nov. 30 (CNA) Owners of new electric bicycles in Taiwan will be required to register their vehicle, obtain a license plate and buy insurance before hitting the road, starting Wednesday, as revisions to traffic rules covering the vehicles take effect.
According to revisions to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, e-bikes, now formally called "mini electric two-wheel vehicles," cannot be operated without a license plate.
Owners of new e-bikes will have to formally register their vehicle and purchase a minimum of three years of compulsory automobile liability insurance at a cost of NT$1,358 (US$44).
For e-bikes purchased before Nov. 1, 2022, owners will have a grace period of two years to complete registration of their vehicles and purchase insurance.
There are about 200,000 e-bikes currently in circulation, and those who fail to register their vehicles within the required time will be subject to a fine of NT$1,200-NT$3,600 and a ban on the e-bike's use.
Insurance coverage for existing e-bikes will depend on their age. E-bikes used for less than a year, for instance, will be required to have a two-year insurance policy costing NT$971.
Beyond those basics, only people aged 14 or older can ride an e-bike, and they must wear a helmet and ride at a speed of no more than 25 kilometers per hour, according to the new rules.
E-bike riders are also forbidden to carry passengers, conduct unauthorized modification of their vehicles, or ride them on sidewalks or regular bike lanes (except for river park bike lanes).
The new regulations are being instituted following a rising number of road accidents involving e-bikes and concerns that they pose a heightened risk to minors, lawmakers have said.
A clearer legal status for electric bikes can also address possible confusion related to thefts or road accidents, while helping the vehicles find a market niche, according to experts.
Ko Chun-pin (柯俊斌), chairman of the Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Association's motorcycle manufacturing division, said the government may provide additional subsidies for e-bikes as part of its campaign to promote environmentally friendly vehicles.
Taiwan manufacturers some 80,000-100,000 new electric bicycles each year, with 80 percent of existing electric bikes owned by migrant workers, he estimated.
