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The quadricycle is a European Union vehicle category for four-wheeled microcars, which allows these vehicles to be designed to less stringent requirements when compared to regular cars. Quadricycles are defined by limitations in terms of weight, engine power and speed.

There are two categories of quadricycles: light quadricycles (L6e) and heavy quadricycles (L7e).[1]

History

The quadricycle classification was officially created in 1992, when the European Union published Directive 92/61/EEC which decreed that quadricycles fell into the same category as mopeds. In 2002, Framework Directive 2002/24/EC then refined this definition by distinguishing between light and heavy quadricycles (L6e and L7e categories).[2]

The framework for drivers licences of light quadricycles in the EU was released in 2006, with Directive 2006/126 (the third Driving Licence directive). This directive applies the same requirements for light quadricycles as for mopeds. This directive includes a recommendation to specify a minimum driving age of 16 years, although the age limit actually varies between 14 and 18 years between countries.

Categories

Light quadricycles (L6e)

Tazzari Zero

Light quadricycles (L6e) are defined by Framework Directive 2002/24/EC as: "motor vehicles with four wheels whose unladen mass is not more than 425 kg,[3] not including the mass of the batteries in case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed is not more than 45 km/h, and:

  1. whose engine cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3 for spark (positive) ignition engines, or
  2. whose maximum net power output does not exceed 6 kW in the case of other (e.g. diesel fuelled) internal combustion engines, or
  3. whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 6 kW in the case of an electric motor.

Heavy quadricycles (L7e)

Renault Twizy
Aixam Crossline

Quadricycles (L7e), also referred to as Heavy quadricycles, are defined by Framework Directive 2002/24/EC as motor vehicles with four wheels other than those referred to as light quadricycles, whose unladen mass is not more than 450 kg for passenger vehicles or 600 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods not including the mass of batteries in the case of electric vehicles, whose maximum net engine power does not exceed 15 kW and a maximum design vehicle speed of 90 km/h.[3]

Country-specific legislation

Finland

The age limit for quadricycles is 15, while it is 18 years for cars in general. Mopeds have been traditionally popular in Finland among youth, and quadricycles have been introduced into the same niche. There is a licence category called AM-121, introduced in 2013, separately for quadricycles, although M-class (moped) licenses issued before 2013 qualify as well.[4] Higher categories of licences (A1, A and B) automatically qualify for quadricycles, but age limits of A1, A and B are 16, 18 and 18, respectively.

Some have been concerned about the danger that quadricycles' low speed poses to other traffic.[5] Over the past decade, Finland has been considering replacing quadricycles with cars with speed limiters; this topic became controversial in February 2017 after the Sastamala quadricycle accident in Sastamala, Pirkanmaa, Finland.[6]

France

In France, small cars which are classified as Voiture Sans Permis (vehicle without licence) can be driven without a driving licence.[7]

Certain quadricycles can be driven on a "road safety certificate" category of drivers licence, which is available to people 14 years or older.[8] The quadricycle must be speed limited to 45 km/h (28 mph) and have a petrol motor up to 50 cc (3.1 cu in) or be electric or diesel powered up to 4 kW (5.4 hp).[9][8]

United Kingdom

In the UK before October 2000, a person who passed a motorcycle test was automatically granted a full sub-category A1 licence, allowing them to drive a lightweight car (an unladen weight of 550 kg (1,213 lb) or less), a motor quadricycle or a motor tricycle. Since 2000 these small cars have been split in two different classifications, light and heavy quadricycles.

A Light quadricycle, a micro car with less than 6kW of power, and an unladen mass no more than 425 kg can be driven on a full bike licence. Anything more powerful or more heavy requires a full car licence to be legally driven as a vehicle on UK roads.

Manufacturers

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Automotive - Enterprise and Industry" (PDF). europa.eu. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Directive 2002/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 18 March 2002 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles and repealing Council Directive 92/61/EEC". Lex EUROPA Website. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  3. 1 2 REGULATION (EU) No 168/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL dated 15 January 2013
  4. ↑ "Mopokortti | Mopokortti". www.mopokorttitesti.info.
  5. ↑ Turun sanomat 10.6.2006 Liikenneturvan aluepäällikkö Antero Aho pelkää, että 45 kilometrin vauhdilla kulkevat mopoautot saattavat aiheuttaa vaaratilanteita tieliikenteessä. [...] Syyskuun lopussa mopoautoihin on tulossa pakolliseksi hitaasta ajoneuvosta varoittava merkki. (in Finnish)
  6. ↑ IS: Murheelliset kuvat Sastamalan kolaripaikalta – murskautunut mopoauto raahautui tietä pitkin (in Finnish)
  7. ↑ "The little car you can drive without a licence". www.bbc.co.uk. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  8. 1 2 Golson, Jordan (25 March 2015). "France Is Letting 14-Year-Olds Drive This Tiny Electric Car". Wired. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "Code de la route - Article R311-1" (in French). Government of France. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2019. Paragraph 4
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