All about eBikes in Japan

 I keep writing in various forums to explain this stuff to people, so I figured it would be better to write it here so that I can write it once and link to it instead.

Before I get started, let me just say that the term "eBike" is only a marketing term in Japan and has no legal meaning, so I will avoid it for most of this discussion.  

First, a little history:

Normal bicycles have been around a very long time, and they have never required a license or anything like that.  As far as requirements go:

1. They aren't required to have mirrors

2. For anyone above 16, they required to wear a helmet (although they should...)

3. No license is required

4. No license plate or taxes are required (other than normal sales tax).

5. They don't need to have brake lights, or any rear light at all.  Turn signals are not required either.  

6.You are required to use a front facing light at night time, but there are no specific brightness or other requirements.

7. In general, bicycles must follow normal traffic regulations such as stop signs, red lights, etc., but you will generally be let off with a warning if you violate the rules but don't hurt anyone.  You can generally go the "wrong way" on one way streets, and you can ride on the sidewalk "as an exception" (i.e. if you feel scared of the high speed traffic on the road).  You can use bike lanes, etc.  You must do a "two step turn" on right turns.  You need to obey the speed limit, but otherwise, you are allowed to go as fast as you can pedal.  

8 Insurance is recommended, but not required.

9. Registration is mandatory, but there is no penalty for not registering.  (But if the parking police take your bike you will have no way to get it back, and filing a theft report will be difficult). 

10. There is no requirement to have your vision tested, wear glasses, etc.  

Then came cars and motorcycles.

To put it simply, there are various classes of trucks, cars, and motorcycles, and the yearly inspection, tax, and other fees vary depending on the weight of the vehicle and/or the engine size.  There are also so called "light vehicles" to which small 3 and 4 wheelers fall.

Motorcycles are divided into "Motorcycles" and "Mopeds", each of which is subdivided into various classes based on engine size.  The smallest of these is the "Gentsuki", which has an engine displacement of less than 50cc is what we will discuss here when I say "gentsuki", although there is a < 125cc class as well.  

Things can get a bit confusing, because gentsuki (mopeds) are considered a subset of motorcycles, and motorcycles are called "Bikes" in Japanese.  Bicycles are almost never called bikes, and are referred to as "Jitensha" or "Chari" (informal).  

What's more, Gentsuki is short for "Gendou tuki jitensha" which means "Bicycle with a motor attached", or motorized bicicle.  This is because the first mopeds were basically bicycles with a small gasoline motor attached (something like a lawnmower engine, perhaps?).  I imagine they were dangerous and smelly.  

The most iconic "Gentsui" is the Honda Super Cub, which has sold more units than any other vehicle of any kind in the history of the world.  They are popular all around south-east Asia, and you can see them zipping around Japan every day to this day.  The post office has to be their largest customer, so I see their red painted Super Cubs at least several times every day and most of the times my doorbell is rung.

Since Gentsuki have motors, they are classified as motor vehicles, and as such require all the trappings: License, license plate, registration, helmet, built in lights, brake lights, mirrors, etc., etc.  They are only allowed to ride on the road and have to follow all of the traffic laws, plus two extra:

1. A Gentsuki is only allowed to do 30kph, even if the speed limit is higher.  People speed all the time - but if you go faster than that and cause an accident, get ready for big fines and/or jail time.  

2. Gentsuki have to do "two step" right turns at 4 day intersections, which is to say they have to cross twice.

Besides the speed limitation, gentsuki are most definitely not allowed to ride on bike trails or go the wrong way down a one way street, so a bicycle is advantageous in many ways.  For example, if you are stopped at a red light that you know is going to take a while to change, but the "walk" sign is green, you can sneak up onto the sidewalk, slither across, and get back on the road before the cars and motorcycles can move - all without fear of being stopped by the police.

You can find out more about Gentuki here.

In general, electric motors are still motors, and therefore all vehicles of any kind, with any number of wheels what have electric motors are classified as motor vehicles.  That means any random electric vehicle needs a license, number plate, insurance, etc.

There are some vehicles which do have motors, but are special exceptions that are not regulated as motor vehicles:

1. Electric Wheel chairs

2. Mobility scooters (for the old or infirm)

3. Some other electric shopping carts, etc.

4. Pedal Assist Bikes as defined by Japanese law.  (These are in general called Pelecs in Europe, apparently).  

We are interested only #4 here.

In order to qualify for the Pedal Assist (hereon PAS) bike exception, there is a strict set of rules:

a. The level of assist is based on the rider's input power.  That means no throttle based bikes.  All PAS bikes have built in power meters.  No fancy Garmin pedals needed!  The motor may supply up to 200% of the power the rider puts in.  (This used to be only 100%).  That means:

If a rider puts in 50 watts, the bike can put in 50x2=100 watts, for a total of 150 watts combined (rider + bike) power.

If a rider puts in 75 watts, the bike can put in 150 watts, for a combined 225 watts of power.

If a rider puts in 100 watts, the bike can put in 200 watts, for a combined 300 watts of power.

etc.

Since most riders will not be putting in much over 100 watts, the maximum power output of a typical PAS motor is typically around 240 or 250 watts.  This is not stipulated by law, it's just what market forces dictate given the laws.  For example, even if you had a 1000 watt motor, and you could put in 150 watts, the motor would be putting out only 300 watts.  Getting the motor to put out 1000 watts would require the rider to put in 500 watts.  Given that most typical riders going to the grocery store struggle with 100 watts, a 1000 watt motor would be an expensive and useless upgrade.  

Almost all PAS bikes sold in Japan are made by Panasonic, Yamaha, or Bridgestone.  Bridgestone bikes seem to use Yamaha components.  Panasonic also makes normal bikes.

But wait, there's more!  The level of assist listed above is only valid up to 10kph.  That is perfectly fine for the intended use, which is basically to help the soccer mom make her way up the steep hill with a bunch of groceries and a baby in the bike.  Due to this, the idea of "sporty" eBikes, and in fast the term "eBike" are very recent phenomenon in Japan.  

PAS bikes in Japan are as old as dirt and everyone has them, but Yamaha started toying with sport road eBikes (the YPJ series) around 2015 or later, and Panasonic came out with the first eMountain Bike (the XM-1) in 2017 or 2018.  (I was one of the buyers of the first batch).  

The level of assist drops steadily once you pass 10kph and reaches 0% once you hit 24kph.  

Interestingly, for the eTrikes used by delivery people pulling around cards full of stuff to deliver there is another exception, which allows the output of 300% power, meaning that if you put in 100 watts, the motor can put in 300 watts, for a total of 400 watts.

For more information on PAS bikes, see the Japan section of this article.

If the bike adheres to all of the above, then it can be classified as a "bicycle", and be exempt from motor vehicle requirements.  That means that virtually all bikes with a battery that you can find in any of the big stores like Yodobashi Camera, Bike Camera, Y's road, Crown Gear, etc., are all Japan certified PAS bikes that follow those rules, and you can ride them just like a normal bike without worrying about anything.

Interestingly, unlike Gentsuki, there is no 30kph speed limit, so you are allowed to go as fast as you can pedal, as long as it is within the speed limit for that stretch of road.  This means I often pass mopeds going down hills on my bike.  If the speed limit is 50 and I can coast down the hill at 45, then no problem.  

If, however, any one of those rules is broken, then the machine is question is not a PAS bike, and therefore not a bicycle.  Now it's a Motor Vehicle.

For example: 

Some eBikes imported from China or elsewhere may have the following issues:

1. They have throttles where you can just turn your wrist to make them go.  Obviously if you aren't pedaling then they are outputting an infinite amount more power than you are putting in --> Motor Vehicle.

2. They output more than 200% of the effort you put in, or maybe only measure cadence to begin with --> Motor Vehicle.

3. They only output 200%, but continue to do it will above 10kph, and maybe well above 24kph - You guessed it... --> Motor Vehicle.  

It's not that being a motor vehicle is necessarily bad, it's just that it brings a whole new set of criteria and requirements.  For example, as soon as your bike is too strong, has a throttle, or doesn't fade out the assistance as you approach 24kph, it's now a motorcycle.  Most non PAS compliant eBikes aren't *that* powerful, and so would probably qualify as Gentsuki (mopeds).  Technically speaking, anything with 600 watts or less of average power is classified as the lowest level Gentsuki.  Anything more powerful than that would be a Class 2 Gentsuki.  These types of bikes are apparently called "Speed Pedelecs" in Europe.  

That means if you "tune" your bike, you *could* technically ride it on the road, but you would first have to make it road worthy by meeting all of the requirements.  For example, you would have to add brake lights that are actuated by the brakes, and mirrors, and turn signals, and a place to mount the license plate.  

I have read blogs by people who have built their own go-cart or whatever, made it road legal, and then successfully registered it with City hall, so it can be done.  Also, a Gentsuki can be driven by anyone with a normal driver's license, and a Gentsuki is the easiest license to get - since no practical test is required.  (Only a paper test is required).  Gentsuki are exempt from yearly inspections.   

Technically any manufacturer can build or import a road legal super powerful eBike and sell it as a Gentsuki in Japan - but there is the consumer issue:

1. Typical PAS buyers may be disappointed once they find out they need to go to all the hassle of getting a license and getting a license plane and all that, only to be banned from the sidewalk, though.  

2. "Sporty" bike people may not want electric bikes that do all the work for them.

3. People who want a moped will find the gas models are still much cheaper and better for long distances.

Practical Notes:

1. The big three PAS makers don't sell eBike style electric Gentsuki yet in Japan.

2. There aren't many electric moped/scooters either.  Honda keeps saying they will release an electric version of the Super Cub, but then not doing it.   

However, there are some S-Pedelec style eBikes pre-certified and for sale in Japan if you know where to look.  For example, I own a Carbon Dry Japan PowerdBike.

You can see a youtube video if it here, and find some more information here.  

It can easily do 45-50 kph, and it has the requisite turn signals, mirror, etc. to make it street legal, since is sold as a "moped bike" .   It also can give something like 80% assist (or more), and although the average output is 500 or 600 watts, it will burst around 1000 watts for acceleration.  It looks more innocent than either of my PAS eMountainBikes, but it is way more powerful.  

I had no problem registering this bike with City hall and getting a license plate.  The insurance company had no problem issuing me a policy either - so the idea that "High powered eBikes are illegal!" is absolutely not true, they are just not bicycles at all under the law.  

If I were to drive this thing around without a license plate or license and get caught, then I would be up for at least:

1. Driving a motor vehicle without a license

2. Driving an unregistered vehicle/failure to display a license plate

3. Possibly failure to wear prescription eyeglasses/use helmet while driving a motor vehicle

4. Operating a motor vehicle without insurance

etc., etc.

This is for a vehicle that is road legal.  If it were some random imported high powered eBike rom overseas made with no regard to PAS classification *or* road legality, then it would probably be illegal in a bunch of other ways too (i.e. no turn signals, etc.)  

To be honest, I don't use this bike a lot, because I like being able to hop up on the sidewalk when I see a crazy driver coming at me, and I like being able to go over 30kph if I put in the work.  The PoweredBike would be more useful for long trips on less crowded roads where I could expect to actually go 30kph for long stretches.  In the middle of Toyko, being able to head the "wrong way" down one way streets and jump up on the sidewalk from time to time is much more valuable to me.  For actual off road riding, it is not too helpful either.  

The PoweredBike also did come with a long manual reminding you that despite looks, it is *not* a bicycle and you can't do bicycle things, even if the power is turned off.  In fact, it's apparently illegal to operate with the power off, just as it would be for a motorcycle - but to be honest I do that all the time.  The chances of a police officer even knowing that rule are about zero, and it is such a technicality I don't think they would care.    

So there you have it, that is the situation with regard to eBikes in Japan.  I have heard some talk about being able to "convert" bikes into PAS or back to mopeds by covering the license place, but I am not sure the details or if that law has passed.  (or how the bike would know?!)

The big takeaway here is that if someone doesn't have a license plate on their bike, and the police see them zipping up a hill without even pedaling, they will immediately know that are illegal.  Likewise, if they see you pulling away from a stop sign or flying down the road at 40kph without pedaling much, they will also know pretty quickly.  You probably will have trouble registering such a machine as a bicycle, and if you don't register it, then when it eventually gets picked up by the parking police somewhere you won't get it back.  (Which is probably a good thing, because they will likely discover that it's not legal in the meantime!).  If you want a moped, buy one and register it properly.  

Now, some people always want to push the limits, and say things like:

"I can pedal 40kph, so it should be legal to have assist up to 40kph!" - Really? I am not sure about that logic.  If you can pedal 40kph then you don't really need the assist.  If you can't, then your logic is broken.  If the logic is that *other people* can pedal 40kph, so you should get to go that speed for free, well maybe...

"In America we can have 3 year old toddlers ride 8000 watt eBikes without a license", etc.  Maybe so, but that doesn't mean it's a great idea.  I might agree, they should raise the limit to 3 times the power input, or raise the assist limit to 30kph or something... maybe make people take a safety class first or something like that.  But if they did raise the limits, it would never be enough for some people.  Some people would not be satisfied unless they could have a 200 pound 8000 watt monstrosity that could go 200kph with a throttle - all with no license or safety requirements.  Obviously the public at large would not be served by or happy with that.  

The power assist law already changed once, from 100% to 200%.  It may change again in the future.  The best way to make that happen is to follow the rules and show that eBikes aren't dangerous.  I see far too may cyclists (eBikes or not) who fly through stop signs, etc., and give everyone a bad name.  

Another option is to pester more companies to come out with Gentsuki eBikes.