Any ideas if I would need a license to use an E-trike in France. I am aware that one’s having engines need one but do electric ones too ?
Below is the one I am thinking of buying.
Default speed is 25 kmph
I believe if it’s just “electrically-assisted” (for when one runs out of puff 
)and maximum 25kph… no need for immatriculation nor a permit de conduire…
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If it is the same power and limited speed assistance as two wheeler, I wouldn’t see why the regulations would be any different.
But surely you zoom around in the Batmobile?
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But that is after sunset. But in the day like all billionaire superheroes I need to be inconspicuous.
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A trike won’t really be inconspicuous…
I’d love to have one though… as 2 wheels aren’t safe enough for me…
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@David_Spardo is the man to ask! He has one.
Is this of interest to you…?
Les trikes dont la puissance n’excède pas 15 kW (20 CV)
Pour conduire un tricycle à moteur dont dont la puissance n’excède pas 15 kW (20 CV), il est nécessaire d’être titulaire de l’une des catégories de permis suivantes : A1, A2, A3, A, B ou B1. Aucune formation complémentaire ou démarche administrative n’est nécessaire avant l’achat du véhicule pour conduire en toute légalité.
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At weekends we often see non-electric elaborate H-D chopper trikes go past, usually driven/ridden by some hairy gentleman who’s a leg short of a pair…
Yes, the article doesn’t specify whether it refers to electric trikes. I assumed petrol trikes would be greater than 15kw, but maybe you can get teeny tiny ones.
The ICE ones we see aren’t teeny, they’re often wider than many cars
I had presumed that the question was about the “ordinary tricycle” with electric assistance…
Puis-je rouler sur les voies cyclables et les voies vertes ?
Oui puisque le tricycle est légalement un vélo. Vous pouvez rouler là où sont autorisés les vélos. De la même façon, vous devez respecter le code de la route applicable aux cycles : donc pas de circulation sur les trottoirs, pas d’écouteurs dans les oreilles, pas de téléphone tenu en main et gilet rétro-réfléchissant hors agglomération, la nuit ou lorsque la visibilité est insuffisante.
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Thanks @JaneJones, I was very busy yesterday and completely missed everything that was said and am just catching up now. Had a quick read through this thread and more or less all has been covered correctly.
Electric tricycles are governed by the same rules as bicycles. You do not need a permis, a hat, (unless you are under 12 yo), or insurance. But you do need lights even if you never go out in the dark.
They are eletcrically assisted, not powered. In other words if you don’t pedal the motor isn’t engaged and, on level ground, you stop. My own one has 7 deraillier gears and 5 levels of electric assistance, the big fun is sorting out the best combination of both for effective progress.
I am not sure if they are all the same but mine has one big drawback. The electric power is on the front wheel and going up hills if the surface is not completely solid the emphasis of weight being on the rear wheels means that the front one tends to lose grip and even slide sideways. This is the main reason why I haven’t been on mine for some time our rural lane is often dusted with fresh gravel and we live halfway up a 10% hill. Difficult.
It has a fairly large basket on the front and very big one on the back, so ok for a weekly shop. I forgot one other thing, the pedals only drive one wheel at the back, the right hand one, which was an added problem as arriving into my drive with the driven wheel higher on the slope I lost grip there too, so not only came to a stop but, because I wasn’t quick enough to get my feet to ground, fell over too. All this stuff was solved by practice, by remembering that you can’t lean a trike into a corner like a bike you have to throw your weight right outside the inner (to the turn) wheel, a bit like a racing sidecar passenger. Also, for the first couple of weeks I had 2x5 litre cubitainers of water secured in both baskets, the rear one on the right hand side over the driven wheel.
Other than that, easy peasy, and coming down a 10% with body thrust almost horizontal at over 30 kms/hr is very exciting. 
(and illegal 
)
just make sure whatever trike/bike you buy… that it conforms to France’s specific Normes for these trikes… best to buy in France perhaps.
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Yes, without going out to the shed I can’t remember the make of mine, except that it is French and was made near Marseilles.
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There is a max allowable wattage of 250 but my 400w one came with a 250w sticker to apply😂 other than the 25 kph restriction, the motor must only assist pedaling and not be able to run without pedaling, so a throttle of any sort is illegal and the link you posted shows either a twist grip gear change, or more likely a twist throttle, which makes it a powered electric motorcycle requiring registration, a helmet and insurance!
As I gently decline that’s what I need on my bike. I wonder if one can upgrade the motor, or “chip” it.
Whilst I’m sure that none of us forumites would dream of fiddling/whatever with E-bikes/trikes to “up” their performance… and not (at the same time) follow all the necessary regulations
just be warned that the consequences for infringement are rather severe and, whilst one hopes/expects not to be caught, it just ain’t worth the risk (in my opinion) 
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Yes that was what I was worried about so changed the model which has 250w, manufactured n EU and has no accelerator. Those trikes aren’t cheap to mess around too.
Maybe an e-version of one of these…
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