EMEC-Prototyping develops mobile test bench for pedelecs, S-pedelecs and e-scooters

They look like ordinary pedelecs, but they travel considerably faster than the law allows: manipulated e-bikes are no longer a rarity on German cycle paths. The German police union estimates that up to ten percent of the pedelecs on Germany’s roads have been manipulated, as reported by manager magazin. This endangers pedestrians and other cyclists. The riders themselves face fines and the loss of their insurance cover. Until now, it has not been possible to prove such manipulation during a roadside check.

Tuning is particularly widespread in the delivery sector. In a recent study by TU Dresden on behalf of the German Road Safety Council (DVR), seven percent of the delivery riders surveyed stated that they had tuned their bike for more speed. A further four percent had converted it for moped-like operation entirely without pedal assistance.

The bicycle associations Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) and Zukunft Fahrrad have therefore written to German Federal Minister of Labour Bärbel Bas, calling for safe and legal electric bicycles to be included in occupational health and safety regulations as work equipment. At the same time, they warn of rising accident risks and reputational damage to the e-bike as a result of illegal tuning.

This is where the current development by EMEC-Prototyping GmbH comes in. The Dresden-based company is working on a mobile test bench that uses AI to detect manipulated electric bicycles and delivers reliable test results directly on site. Its compact design allows for rapid changes of location: the test bench can be stowed in the patrol vehicle and is set up within a few minutes. The development goal is to be able to test all common vehicle types – from e-bikes and S-pedelecs to cargo bikes and e-scooters – on a single test bench.

The mobile test bench gives police forces and testing organisations a practical tool for on-site checks for the first time. This protects everyone who rides within the rules and makes cycle paths safer!

The system is currently under development and is scheduled to be available from summer 2027. The project is funded by the Free State of Saxony and co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). EMEC-Prototyping received the corresponding funding decision from Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB). With this development, EMEC-Prototyping is expanding its portfolio in the fields of test technology, test systems and special-purpose machinery.

Sources
manager magazin: „Kampf gegen getunte E-Bikes: Die Lieferszene auf Speed“, 10 August 2026
TU Dresden on behalf of the DVR: „Sicher unterwegs auf zwei Rädern – Verkehrsunfälle und Präventionspotenziale im Arbeitsalltag von Rider*innen“, 2026
Statement by ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad in the lobby register of the German Bundestag

About EMEC-Prototyping
Since 2010, EMEC-Prototyping GmbH has been developing products and test benches, among others for electric bicycles, power tools, light electric vehicles as well as medical and food technology. The test centre in Dresden offers highly dynamic test technology and individual test concepts in line with current and future standards, in the laboratory as well as in the field.

Press contact:
EMEC-Prototyping GmbH
Dölzschener Straße 47
01159 Dresden, Germany

info@emec-prototyping.com

Funding notice
The development of the mobile bicycle test bench is funded by the Free State of Saxony via Sächsische Aufbaubank – Förderbank – (SAB) and co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This measure is co-financed by tax revenue on the basis of the budget adopted by the Saxon State Parliament.