Two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles: maximum design speed

1) OBJECTIVE

To harmonise national laws and establish a type-approval procedure with regard to maximum design speed (measurement method), maximum torque (power transmitted by the engine) and maximum net engine power (maximum net value measured under full load) of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles.

2) ACT

Directive 95/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 February 1995 on the maximum design speed, maximum torque and maximum net engine power of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles [Official Journal L 52 of 8 March 1995].

Amended by the following:

- Commission Directive 2002/41/EC of 17 May 2002 adapting to technical progress Directive 95/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the maximum design speed, maximum torque and maximum net engine power of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles [Official Journal L 133 of 18 May 2002];

- Commission Directive 2006/27/EC of 3 March 2006 [Official Journal L 66 of 8 March 2006].

3) SUMMARY

This proposal comes under the type-approval procedure for two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles, initially put into place by Directive 92/61/EEC which was repealed and replaced by Directive 2002/24/EC.

The vehicles covered by the Directive are divided into the following types:

• mopeds: two- or three-wheeled vehicles fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm3 and a maximum design speed of not more than 45 km/h;
• motorcycles: two-wheeled vehicles with or without a sidecar, fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm3 and/or having a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h;
• motor tricycles: vehicles with three symmetrically arranged wheels fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm3 and/or a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h;
• quadricycles: four-wheeled vehicles whose engine cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3, whose maximum design speed is not more than 45 km/h and whose unladen mass is less than 350 kg are considered to be mopeds;
• other quadricycles are classed as motor tricycles.

The requirements relating to the maximum permissible power and methods of measuring maximum torque and maximum net engine power are:

• a study planned to check whether there is any connection between accidents and maximum engine power of more than 74 kW;
• specific requirements concerning spark-ignition engines for mopeds, motorcycles and tricycles and relating to:

- the accuracy of torque and power measurements under full load;

- the measurement test and the test report;

- the correction factors for torque and power;

- the maximum torque and maximum net power measurement tolerances.

The procedure for granting type-approval is as follows:

• the application for type-approval is submitted by the constructor or manufacturer to the competent authority of a Member State;
• the competent authority grants type-approval in respect of the maximum design speed, the maximum torque and the maximum net power if these conform to the technical requirements of this Directive and to the data provided by the manufacturer;
• to this end, it fills in the type-approval certificate contained in the annex to the Directive.

The requirements relating to the maximum design speed, the maximum torque and the maximum net power form part of a list of 47 characteristics set out in Council Directive 92/61/EEC, all of which have to be complied with for two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles to be approved and marketed in the Community.

Restrictive clause: in their territory Member States may reject the first registration and subsequent registrations of vehicles with a maximum net power of more than 74 kW.

The new Directive clarifies certain provisions in Directive 95/1/EC in order to remove the inconsistencies between some of the Appendices to the text.

As of 1 July 2003, the Member States may not refuse to grant EC type-approval for a type of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle, or prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of these motor vehicles, if their maximum design speed, maximum torque and maximum net engine power comply with the requirements of Directive 95/1/EC, as amended by the new Directive.

As of 1 January 2004, the Member States should also refuse to grant EC type-approval for any new type of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle if the requirements of Directive 95/1/EC are not fulfilled.

Last updated: 10.07.2006