How to Legally Ebike (Toronto)

[Carpentersyed]

Hello everyone,

Being in Toronto, and wanting to ebike legally using a kit, I checked the MTO standards of an ebike (pedelec) as listed here: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/driver/electric-bicycles.shtml

The last bullet states, "a permanent label from the manufacturer in both English and French stating that your e-bike conforms to the federal definition of a power-assisted bicycle.".

Using an ebike kit, and not being given any sort of label, how would I go about this?

I have contacted the ministry and await their input although, if anyone else would have any information regarding this, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Tenutso]

I have some input on this. I owned a bike (Toronto) with an MP III kit setup and followed the rules to a tee. I made sure that it ran at approx 500 watts and limited the speed to 32kph with the Cycle Analyst. I wasn't interested in speed but power assisted cycling. I rode care free for two seasons until one day while riding to work I past a crime scene and a cop shouted "hey do you have a sticker" and waved me over. I initially thought nothing of it and approached with a smile and confident that he'll get a kick out of my bike and have idle conversation as most cops usually did with me. This time however he said that I didn't have a manufacturer sticker or proper paperwork but I reassured him that it met all the requirements. He said nope! I could hit you right now with some serious fines and really ruin your day... I was surprised at how much he knew.  He let me be on my way without issue because he was too busy to deal with me. I hadn't been able to take her out again after this episode and eventually sold it to an eager buyer on kijiji. I'm now looking to build a new bike to re-live the dream but still have concerns. Cops are very well educated now on ebike requirements. Not like the old days. There's got to be a path for ebike kits somewhere in the mix? At the moment it's pretty much illegal in Ontario as it stands because of the manufacturing sticker clause. This is their way of not having to test bikes. You get caught breaking the law on an ebike that's one thing but if you don't have a manufacturer sticker/paper work you'll get hit with insurance and registration tickets. Unfortunately you can't make your own either because there's no accountable entity to stand behind it. Would love to hear more input on this.

[GM Canada]

I wish I had seen this post earlier. It was pointed out to me today.

In Canada, an Ebike requires a sticker by the final manufacturer of the Ebike. If you are building your own Ebike you can put your own sticker on it as you are the final manufacturer. If you are buying a complete Ebike the retailer must provide a sticker stating its a legal Ebike.

The officer that seemed so knowledgeable about Ebike laws needs to do some research before scaring people with his comments. I am a founding member of TERA which is an organization formed to make Ebike laws fair in Toronto. TERA is a huge reason Ebikes have the rights they do in the City of Toronto. We went through a lot to get the Ebike laws flipped in our favor. Including a forced vote in City hall. I know of no instance in Canada of anyone having an issue with building an Ebike and running it at 500w 32kl/h. I have even been to public hearings on Ebikes where police officers looked at all our Ebikes. Some of them loved Ebikes. Others hate them, and no such comments were ever made.

There are thousands of homemade Ebikes in Canada. More every year. Homemade Ebikes were on the roads in Canada long before the prebuilt Ebikes of today showed up. I would be very surprised if you could find one documented instance, where a person was actually fined for having a homemade Ebike and no sticker on it.

Gary