STARTING June 15, the Shenzhen Municipal Traffic Police Bureau will stop distributing yellow license plates for electric bikes that are not consistent with national standards in Bao’an and Guangming districts, sznews.com reported.

Those who own e-bikes that meet the national standards can apply for a white license plate — which are valid permanently — with their Shenzhen residency ID or residence permit. Yellow license plates are for temporary use.

E-bikes that have registered and got the yellow plate are still legal to use until Dec. 31 2021.

According to safety regulations on electric bikes, a qualified e-bike has to meet the national standards such as having a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour, no heavier than 55 kilograms, having pedal-power function and the nominal battery voltage being no higher than 48 volts.

In April, Shenzhen traffic police joined hands with Bao’an and Guangming district governments to pilot a scheme to register e-bikes.

At present, 879,200 people have their e-bikes recorded in the system in the two districts, said the report.

For owners of e-bikes, the registration can reduce the risk of their vehicles being stolen and their property rights thus can be protected by law.

Citizens can buy insurance for their registered e-bikes. When there is a traffic accident, there will be more protection for owners. It can also help residential communities to manage e-bikes.

Residents need to upload their personal as well as their e-bikes’ information into the system and study required lessons before they get a license plate for their bikes.

“More people now are wearing a helmet when they are driving e-bikes. Over 80 percent of citizens observed the rule when we conducted a check at the entrances of schools. Ninety percent of drivers at Bao’an Boulevard and Chuangye Road wore helmets,” said Liu Ming, a staff member with Xin’an Subdistrict Office in Bao’an.

In an accident, helmets can protect the driver’s head.

Yanluo Subdistrict in Bao’an also used radio frequency identification (RFID) to manage electric bikes. Each e-bike registered in the subdistrict will be installed with an RFID chip, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

RFID enables authorities to track e-bikes involved in an accident and helps housing estates to prevent e-bikes and batteries from entering into buildings. The charging of e-bike batteries has caused a number of fires in Shenzhen in recent years.  

(Wang Jingli)