Electric bicycles are widely welcomed by consumers due to their low-carbon and environmentally friendly advantages. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, over 50% of electric two-wheelers worldwide are produced in China. As the world's largest two-wheeler production base, more than half of China's two-wheeler output (including electric two-wheelers) is used for export. The export volume is expected to exceed 20 million units by 2025. As a result, more and more electric bicycle companies are actively expanding into overseas markets. Here, we have collected and organized relevant trade and technical knowledge regarding the import and export of electric bicycles for your reference.

01. Customs Classification

Electric Bicycle 8711600010

Tariff Rate: 45% VAT Rate: 13%

Regulatory Document Requirements: 6A Quarantine and Inspection Requirements: M/L

Declaration Elements: 1: Product Name; 2: Brand Type; 3: Export Preferential Treatment Status; 4: Engine Type; 5: Brand (Chinese or Foreign Name)

02. Technical Standards

03. Technical Requirements

China

On June 23, 2021, the China National Certification and Accreditation Administration announced that starting from July 1, 2021, electric bicycles must undergo mandatory CCC certification.

Two-wheeled bicycles that use an on-board battery as auxiliary power, have the capability for pedal riding, and can achieve electric-assisted and/or electric-driven functions must obtain a CCC mandatory product certification before they can be imported, sold from the factory, or used in commercial settings.

(1) Capable of pedal riding;

(2) Equipped with electric-driven and/or electric-assisted functions;

(3) During electric-driven operation, the maximum design speed shall not exceed 25 km/h; during electric-assisted operation, if the speed exceeds 25 km/h, the motor shall not provide power output;

(4) The assembled electric bicycle shall have a total vehicle weight of less than or equal to 55 kg;

(5) The battery nominal voltage shall be less than or equal to 48 V;

(6) The motor's rated continuous output power shall be less than or equal to 400 W.

European Union

The EU's new Machinery CE Certification Directive 2006/42/EC (abbreviated as MD) came into effect on December 29, 2009. This directive applies to mobile machinery, mechanical devices, machines used to transport people, and safety accessories, and it is a mandatory certification for the EU market. Products that comply with this directive, whether produced by companies within the EU or imported from other countries, must carry the CE mark if sold in the EU market, indicating that the product meets the essential requirements of the EU "New Approach to Technical Harmonization and Standardization."

The electric bicycle standard EN 15194:2017 became a harmonized standard under the Machinery Directive on March 19, 2019, thus becoming a mandatory requirement. Electric bicycles sold in the European market must meet the requirements of EN 15194:2017, and the complete vehicle must also carry the CE mark.

The standard requires a rated voltage not exceeding 48V, a maximum cutoff speed not exceeding 25 km/h, a maximum continuous power not exceeding 250W, and a minimum saddle height of 635mm, suitable for private or commercial use.

The whole vehicle must comply with the MD Machinery Directive, EN12100 risk analysis, WEEE directive for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment, RoHS directive for the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, EMC electromagnetic compatibility, and REACH chemicals regulation.

United States

According to the regulations of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, low-speed electric bicycles are classified as consumer products, and electric bicycle products fall under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stipulates that low-speed electric bicycles or tricycles manufactured for commercial use must be equipped with pedal-assist pedals, the output power of the electric motor must not exceed 750W, the speed under a 77kg (170 lbs) rider must not exceed 32 km/h (20 mph), and the total vehicle weight must not exceed 50 kg. The entire vehicle must comply with 16 CFR PART 1512 and UL 2849 ED1:2019.

Australia

The Australian Government's Motor Vehicle Standards Act stipulates that all vehicles intended to be operated on the road must comply with the Australian Design Rules (ADR) before being marketed. The vehicles covered include bicycles and electrically assisted bicycles.

Australian regulations stipulate that electric pedal-assisted bicycles must have a rated voltage not exceeding 48V, a maximum power-off speed of no more than 25 km/h, a maximum continuous power not exceeding 250W, a minimum saddle height of 635mm, and a wheelbase of no less than 640mm, except for racing and specially designed bicycles. The whole vehicle must comply with AS 15194:2016 and AS 1927:2010 A1:2014.

Japan

Japan has implemented strict restrictions on the use of electric bicycles. Only "smart electric-assist bicycles" are allowed on the roads, where the electric power can only assist human pedaling. The specific regulations are as follows:

1. Under any riding conditions, when the speed is less than 15 km/h, the electric assist power should be close to human power, but it must not exceed human power.

2. Under any riding conditions, when the speed exceeds 15 km/h, for every 1 km/h increase in speed, the upper limit of electric assist should decrease by 1/9.

3. When the speed exceeds 24 km/h, the entire electric assist system must shut off.

4. The electric assist system should start running within 1 second after human pedaling begins, and it should shut off within 1 second after human pedaling stops.

5. To save energy, the smart electric-assist bicycle should enter sleep mode after the bicycle has stopped operating for a certain period of 3-5 minutes.

6. Continuous riding must be ensured, and the electric assist should not have intermittent interruptions.

04. Certification Process

China

Certification: Compulsory product certification; production licensing system; voluntary product certification; inspection and supervision system

Mode: Type testing of export products; batch sampling inspection of export batches; supervision of factory quality system; factory audit; product testing; subsequent supervision

Procedure: Sampling; inspection; testing; accreditation; registration; approval; conformity assessment; conformity verification; conformity assurance.

European Union

Certification: TUV certification; GS certification;

Mode: Internal production control; EC type testing; declaration of conformity to type; production quality assurance; product quality assurance; individual product verification; total quality assurance

Procedure: Document audit; product testing; factory audit; annual factory follow-up audit

United States

Certification: Federal certification (mandatory, voluntary), private certification; Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

Procedure: Product registration before import; product certification; conformity assessment; post-import inspection and supervision.

Australia

Certification: ADR certification;

Model: Registration application; provide data; preliminary testing; final testing

Procedure: Production equipment and design equipment registration; product import, provide data; preliminary testing; final testing.

05. Precautions

Lithium batteries/lead-acid batteries are classified as dangerous goods during international transportation and should be declared and transported as such. Refer to customs classification:

Primary lithium batteries and battery packs: 8506500000

Tariff rate: 45%  VAT rate: 13%

Regulatory document requirements: A  Inspection and quarantine requirements: M

Declaration elements: 1: Product name; 2: Brand/type; 3: Export preferential treatment status; 4: Purpose; 5: Electrode material (manganese dioxide, mercuric oxide, silver oxide, lithium, zinc-air, etc.); 6: Brand (in Chinese or foreign language); 7: Model; 8: Capacity; 9: Mercury content; 10: GTIN; 11: CAS; 12: Other

Other Lithium-Ion Batteries 8507600090

Tariff rate: 45% VAT rate: 13%

Regulatory license requirements: A Quarantine inspection requirements: M

Declaration elements: 1: Product name; 2: Brand/type; 3: Export preferential treatment status; 4: Use; 5: Electrode material (lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-iron, nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion, etc.); 6: Specific energy; 7: Brand (Chinese or foreign name); 8: Model; 9: Capacity; 10: Mercury content; 11: Rated voltage; 12: GTIN; 13: CAS; 14: Others

Other Lead-acid Batteries 8507200000

Tariff Rate: 90%  VAT Rate: 13%

Regulatory Certificate Requirements: A  Inspection and Quarantine Requirements: M

Declaration Elements: 1: Product Name; 2: Brand Type; 3: Export Preferential Treatment; 4: Purpose; 5: Electrode Material (Lead-acid, Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel-Iron, Nickel-Metal Hydride, Lithium-ion, etc.); 6: Specific Energy; 7: Brand (Chinese or Foreign Name); 8: Model; 9: Capacity; 10: Mercury Content; 11: Rated Voltage; 12: GTIN; 13: CAS; 14: Others;