Summary of Key Points
This news article focuses on the contradiction between speed limitations and speed adjustment for electric bicycles: The new national standard stipulates a maximum designed speed of 25 km/h for electric bicycles, but groups such as delivery workers and couriers often adjust the speed due to time constraints. The new standard makes speed adjustment more difficult through technical measures (e.g., a "triple integration" anti-tampering system), but some stores are still able to adjust the speed (up to 30 km/h, and some delivery workers even use older standard electric bicycles). Excessive speed poses safety risks, and regulatory authorities are balancing safety with these needs by addressing illegal modifications, conducting talks with companies/platforms, and using technical traceability methods.
1. Why Do People Want to Increase the Speed of Electric Bicycles? — Delivery Workers Need to Make Money, While Ordinary People Find It Too Slow
For ordinary people, a designed speed of 25 km/h (with actual road speed limits of 20 km/h) may seem not much faster than a bicycle and too slow for daily commuting. However, for delivery workers and couriers, time is critical:
- Income Impact: At 25 km/h, they can only deliver 2 orders in an hour, earning less than 20 yuan; at 60 km/h, they can deliver 5 orders in the same hour, doubling their income.
- Platform Evaluation: Although being late doesn't result in a fine, it does affect their order volume.
Therefore, most delivery workers adjust the speed, and some even use older standard electric bicycles that are not subject to the new standard. For example, Li Gang's old bicycle can go 60 km/h, and if it breaks, he buys a used standard bicycle as long as it doesn't get inspected.
2. Has Speed Adjustment Become More Difficult with the New Standard? — Technical Locks Make It Costly and Time-Consuming
Before the new standard was implemented, speed limits could be easily adjusted with a decoder. Now, it's different:
- Anti-Tampering Technology: The battery, controller, and speed limiter are all integrated, and modifying any one of these components may render the bicycle unusable. To adjust the speed, the controller needs to be replaced, and the battery and charger must also be matched, which is technically difficult and costly.
- Reduced Speed Adjustment Range: Most bicycles can only be adjusted up to 30 km/h, with some models reaching 40-50 km/h; to exceed 50 km/h, the bicycle must be returned to the manufacturer or a authorized dealer, which ordinary repair shops cannot handle.
- Inexpensive Bicycles Cannot Be Adjusted: Some low-cost models cannot have their speed limits removed due to cost and technical limitations.
3. Is Excessive Speed Really Dangerous? — The Risk of Accidents Is Not Low, Especially for Delivery Workers
The safety issues associated with excessive speed are significant:
- Accident Data: Accidents caused by electric bicycle speeding and running red lights account for 10% of all urban road accidents.
- Higher Risk for Delivery Workers: Studies show that delivery workers have only 11.2 minutes per delivery, of which 4.8 minutes are spent driving. To meet deadlines, they often speed, and the longer they speed, the higher the risk of accidents.
For instance, the new standard increased the designed speed from 20 km/h to 25 km/h to account for the fact that higher speeds reduce time available for avoiding obstacles and increase braking distances, increasing the risk of collisions.
4. How Do Regulatory Authorities Manage the Situation? — Inspecting Modifications, Conducting Talks with Companies, and Using Traceability QR Codes
To address illegal modifications, regulatory authorities have taken several measures:
- Special Inspections: The State Administration for Market Regulation has included illegal modifications in its "Protecting Consumers" campaign, with 35,500 cases filed (15,000 of which involve modifications) and 212 cases referred to the police.
- Technical Traceability: Each bicycle, battery, and charger comes with a unique QR code that allows tracking of the manufacturer. Therefore, to adjust the speed, one must go to an authorized brand store; other shops dare not attempt modifications.
- Conversations with Companies: Authorities have met with companies like Yadea and Ema to ensure compliance, as well as with delivery platforms like Meituan and JD to optimize their evaluation algorithms and reduce the pressure on workers to speed.
5. How to Balance Safety and Needs? — The Solution Is Still Being Developed
Current approaches are still being explored:
- Fine-Tuning Speed Limits: A draft revision to the Road Traffic Safety Law increases the actual driving speed limit from 15 km/h to 20 km/h, but this still does not meet the needs of delivery workers.
- Combining Technical Protection with Humanized Management: The new standard uses technical measures to lock the speed, but platforms are also required to optimize their evaluation systems (e.g., by reducing the emphasis on speed) and provide better safety training for workers.
- Handling Older Standard Bicycles: Since older bicycles are not affected by the new standard, regulatory authorities need to find ways to regulate their use.
In summary, safety is the top priority, but the real needs of users (delivery workers and ordinary people) must also be considered. Finding a balance between the two requires the joint efforts of regulatory authorities, companies, and platforms.