The Complete Guide to new regulations for your E-bike and E-scooter in Beijing.
Currently, the Chinese government does not require a driver’s license or insurance to ride electric bicycles. However, since 2017 you are required to register your e-bike and more recently your e-scooter in order to drive it on the road. In October 2018, Beijing introduced another new regulation to its citizens; the “Safety Technical Specifications for Electric Bicycles” (电动自行车安全技术规范).
Implemented by the Minister of Technologies and Transports, it indicates that all e-vehicles must be registered by the Traffic Police and obtain a license plate. The regulations on the administration of non-motor vehicles in Beijing also stipulates that only electric bicycles complying with national standards (CCC Certification) can drive on the road. Electric bicycles outside the CCC Certification catalogue (e-scooter) must apply for a temporary license plate which will allow them to drive legally on the road until 31/10/2021.
After that transition period, the non CCC Certified vehicles are not allowed to drive on the road and will be banned from sale in the capital. Right now, nobody knows what will happen with those non CCC Certified vehicles after 31/10/2021.
Temporary License Plate
Permanent License Plate
According to the Minister of technologies latest report, since May 2019, any newly registered e-vehicles will have to comply with the following standards:
- Maximum speed: 15 kilometers per hour
- Maximum weight: 55kg
- Operate with a lithium battery
- Limited to 400 watts and 48 volts max
- Provided with foot pedals
What is the difference between an E-bike (电动自行车) and an E-scooter (电动车)?
An “electric bike” is a vehicle which can be pedaled but also has an electric motor to assist, while an “electric scooter” cannot be pedaled and only relies on the motor for propulsion. Electric scooter batteries tend to be more powerful than electric bike.
How to register my E-bike?
You will have to go in person to the Traffic Police Bureau in your district (addresses at the end of this article).
Once you get there, you will need to provide a few documents:
- The purchase receipt for your e-bike.
- E-bike certificate of approval (e-bike CCC: e-bike China Compulsory Certification. Usually provided by the store when you buy the bike.)
- Make sure the e-bike is listed as qualified for a license. (You can put the type or brand of your e-bike to check on this website.
- Your ID
How to register my E-scooter?
According to the Ministry of technologies and transport, all currently owned E-scooters were to be registered at the Traffic Police between October 2018 and April 2019. It is now too late to register for an E-scooter temporary license plate; however, you can still buy an e-scooter that already has a legal license plate.
Info: If you are caught driving an unlicensed E-scooter, you can now be fined 1,000 RMB by the police and get your E-scooter confiscated. Do not forget! If you buy an existing e-scooter with legal license plate, you will be only able to drive it until the 31st of October 2021.
How to transfer an E-vehicles (E-bikes & E-scooter)?
It is always preferable to buy new vehicles to be sure of your purchase, however depending on your budget you may want to purchase a secondhand E-vehicle. It is possible for you to buy it from someone who previously registered it, however you must ensure that the license plate is legal and is connected with the e-vehicle’s serial number as well as the current owners ID.
In fact, all current license plate numbers are connected to the owner’s ID number and only the owner can process a transfer. It is therefore compulsory for both parties to go to the police station to legally transfer an e-vehicle. The vehicle transfer process will take anywhere from about 30 minutes to 1 hour. The following documents are necessary for the buyer and the seller to be able to finalize the transfer of the E-vehicle at the Police station:
Both the seller and buyer must be present at the Police station for the transfer. The E-vehicle with the current license plate must also be there for the police officer to inspect.
Finally, whether you are transferring an E-bike or an E-scooter, the police officer will ask the buyer and the seller to fill in a registration form called “E-vehicle Application Form” (非机动车登记申请表) as well as sign and finger print an “Electric Bicycle Transfer Agreement” for the process to be fully completed.
The updated list of E-Vehicles Fines:
- Driving through a red light or stopping after the waiting line – 20RMB
- Driving in the car lane – 20RMB
- Driving in reverse – 20RMB
- Carrying adults behind – 20RMB
- Having a legal license plate but not displaying it correctly affixed to the vehicle – 20RMB
- Having a temporary license plate but not displaying it correctly affixed to the vehicle – 20RMB
- Registered but no documents or license plate – 20RMB
- E-bike with non-local plate / Registered in other city 20RMB
- The electric bicycle with a height of more than 1.5 meters from the ground, a width of 0.15 meters beyond the handlebars, and a length of 0.3 meters beyond the wheels at the front or back – 20RMB
- Dragging or towing equipment or loadings – 50RMB
- Coming soon: Not wearing a helmet will be fined in China major cities.
IMPORTANT!
In case you did not register your E-vehicle, you will be fined 1000RMB, and the Police will confiscate your vehicle.
E-Vehicles are banned in a few Beijing streets
Since April 2016, the Beijing’s Public Security Bureau (PSB) has banned “two-wheeled electric bikes” (电动二轮车) from driving on some popular Beijing streets. Violators face fines of RMB 20 per infraction and confiscation of the vehicle if they refuse to pay.
List of banned streets:
- Chang’an Jie
- Guangchang Dongce Lu
- Guangchange Xice Lu
- Fuyou Jie
- Zhengyi Lu
- Fuxingmenwai Dajie
- Jiaenguomenwai Dajie
- Fuxing Lu
- Puhuangyu Lu
- Shijingshan Lu
List of popular E-bikes brands available in Beijing:
- Niu 牛– https://home.niu.com/
- Super Soco – https://supersoco.com.au/
- TAILG 台铃 – https://tailg.cc/electric-bike/
- Yadea 雅迪 – http://www.yadea.com.cn/
- Luyuan 绿源 – http://www.luyuan.cn/
- Aima 爱玛 – https://www.aimatech.com/
Where to buy a new E-bike?
Perhaps the most common place to buy an e-bike is the large chain supermarkets (Carrefour, Wal-Mart, Auchan, etc.) as they also help you register your bike. Locally owned electric bike stores will allow you to better negotiate prices compared to supermarkets, but they rarely help with your bike registration.
Recently, more and more people are buying e-vehicles through internet platforms which might be even cheaper than locally owned electric bike stores, but of course they don’t provide any after sales repair services.
List of Police stations addresses: where to go to register or transfer your e-vehicle.
Police stations are often open from Monday to Sunday 9:00am to 16:00pm except during Chinese public holidays (Such as Jan 1st, Oct 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.).
Chaoyang District
Chaoyang Transportation Bureau Hujialou Subdistrict (North side of Jingguang Bridge) 朝阳交通支队呼家楼非机动车登记站 (东三环京广桥下北侧呼家楼交通大队执法站内)
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