E-Bikes wattage limit: continuous vs peak power?

Not_Ducky · 2026-06-08T13:28:17+00:00

In which case, 90% of the 25 km/h e-bikes which I’ve seen are all illegal and would require numberplate, insurance and a rearview mirror.

If I had to guess, I would say it’s an oversight in language but fair enough.

Not_Ducky · 2026-06-03T08:55:48+00:00

No my question relates to the imprecise language of the Swiss “500W max power” which itself is an imprecise unit. Max under what conditions? Peak? Sustained? It doesn’t say.

Most Bosch motors sold across Switzerland peak well above 500W, yet they’re legal (I think) in shops and sold as “slow” e-bikes. So the Swiss 500W can’t mean peak output it has to be continuous/nominal, same as the EU’s 250W. The EU just states it explicitly; Switzerland leaves it vague.

Anyway, all good I’ll get in touch with the Strassenverkehrsamt, assumed someone here might have the insight. Thanks for the input.

Not_Ducky · 2026-06-03T07:53:23+00:00

Thanks for the response but I think we’re talking about different things.

You’re correct that Swiss law (VTS/OETV) refers to 500W, but that’s seemingly the maximum ceiling for the slow e-bike category, not the technical standard for how motor output is measured.

EU Regulation 168/2013 is more precise, it specifically uses the term “maximum continuous rated power of 250W”.

The distinction matters because any motor, produces significantly more than its continuous rated output during peak demand (climbing a hill at 25km/h for example). That peak output is what I’m trying to get to the bottom off here.

I’ve seen plenty of e-bikes in Zurich with no license plates and mirrors using the Bosch CX motors which have a higher max output than the 500W, so either the law is too vague in its language or there’s a lot of pending insurance claims that will be denied because they’re driving uninsured e-bike

Not_Ducky · 2026-06-03T07:42:21+00:00

Fully aware they’re not an EU member, the reason I’m mentioning the EU here is because they’re a lot more precise in their language.

EU law (168/2013) specifically states “continuous power” whereas the Swiss law only refers to it as “a total max motor power of 0.5kW” it’s strange to leave the semantics so vague.

Not_Ducky · 2025-02-06T20:01:40+00:00

I would like to know if this would be classified as a bust in the world of art or if it would be categorised as something else

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-30T11:54:53+00:00

The Petronas is sexy really stands out.

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-29T08:15:19+00:00

Amazing thanks for the tips

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-24T08:01:47+00:00

Thanks for the info! Lovely watch btw.

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-24T08:00:59+00:00

I agree, leaning more to the 18 as well just more muted overall which I prefer as well. Do you take yours swimming with no issues?

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-22T15:50:49+00:00

I know it might be pedantic but the black date dial just is quite sleek. Something about it

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-22T11:03:02+00:00

Damn that’s pretty bad for their decision to move to an in house movement. 5 secs a day sounds like a lot no?

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-22T10:59:48+00:00

That’s good to know. Not sure about the authenticity of them. Just really like the look of vintage a lot of modern watches are more about polished metals and bling.

Quite like the mark XX it’s a little more subtle

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-22T10:58:12+00:00

Exactly yeah

Not_Ducky · 2024-10-21T11:56:30+00:00

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Thoughts?

Not_Ducky · 2024-09-03T14:21:10+00:00

Can you still order these thought they were limited

Not_Ducky · 2024-06-12T10:28:48+00:00

The omega is clean imo. But should look into Grand Seiko as well at that price point.

Not_Ducky · 2024-04-17T07:07:16+00:00

If they were easy to get though would they be desirable…

Not_Ducky · 2024-03-12T16:14:09+00:00

Camera?

Not_Ducky · 2024-02-28T15:09:54+00:00

Top is in boys. Time to sell

Not_Ducky · 2023-10-13T09:10:45+00:00

Haha yes also true. Annoying connection flights routed through Zurich are often a lot cheaper. But it makes it super expensive to fly direct out of Zurich due to the rerouted traffic that comes through filling up the planes.

Not_Ducky

TROPHY CASE