Um Fahrzeuge unterscheiden zu können werden sie in Kategorien und Klassen eingeteilt. In Europa (EU Type Approval) mit Buchstaben, international mit Zahlen (UN-ECE), in Amerika und Japan werden andere Bezeichnungen und Einteilungen verwendet. In der folgenden Tabelle sind die wichtigsten Kategorien aufgeführt:

EU Typ Approval	UN-ECE
L	3	Motorfahrzeuge mit weniger als vier Rädern (Motor vehicles with less than four wheels)
M	1	Motorfahrzeuge mit mindesten vier Rädern für den Personentransport (Power-driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of passengers)
N	2	Motorfahrzeuge mit mindesten vier Rädern für den Warentransport (Power-driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of goods)

• links 2- und 3-rad Fahrzeuge, rechts 4-rad Fahrzeuge
• Horizontal ist die Geschwindigkeit abgebildet
• Vertikal die Motorleisttung

Die Übereinstimmung bei den Kategorien und Klassen zwischen EU und UN-ECE ist nicht 100%. Die Tabelle gibt nur einen Überblick, die Tücken sind jeweils im Detail und führen zu Verwirrungen. Es ist zu hoffen dass hier bald eine Bereinigung stattfindet!

EU Type Approval	UN-ECE
L	3	Motor vehicles with less than four wheels
EPAC		electrically power assisted cycle (EPAC) means cycle, equipped with pedals and an auxiliary electric motor, which cannot be propelled exclusively by means of this auxiliary electric motor only when the cyclist pedals, does the motor assist, with a maximum continuous rated electric motor power of 0.25 kW, with a maximum design speed propelled by the electric motor of not more than 25 km/h
Pedelec		Cycles equipped with an auxiliary motor that cannot be exclusively propelled by that motor. Only when the cyclist pedals, does the motor assist.
L1	3-1	A two-wheeled vehicle with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine not exceeding 50 cm3 and whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h.
L1e		mopeds, i.e. two-wheel vehicles with a maximum design speed of not more than 45 km/h and characterised by: an engine whose: cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3 in the case of the internal combustion type, or maximum continuous rated power is no more than 4 kW in the case of an electric motor; (i) in the case of the two-wheel type, an engine whose: cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3 in the case of the internal combustion type, or maximum continuous rated power is no more than 4 kW in the case of an electric motor;
L2	3-2	A three-wheeled vehicle of any wheel arrangement with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine not exceeding 50 cm3 and whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h.
L2e		mopeds, i.e. three-wheel vehicles with a maximum design speed of not more than 45 km/h and characterised by: (ii) in the case of the three-wheel type, an engine whose: cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3 if of the spark (positive) ignition type, or maximum net power output does not exceed 4 kW in the case of other internal combustion engines, or . maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 4 kW in the case of an electric motor;
L3	3-3	A two-wheeled vehicle with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine exceeding 50 cm3 or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 50 km/h.
L3e		motorcycles, i.e. two-wheel vehicles, fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm3 if of the internal combustion type and/or having a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h,
L4	3-4	A vehicle with three wheels asymmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median plane with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine exceeding 50 cm3 or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 50 km/h (motor cycles with sidecars).
L4e		motorcycles, i.e. two-wheel vehicles with a sidecar, fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm3 if of the internal combustion type and/or having a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h,
L5	3-5	A vehicle with three wheels symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median plane with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine exceeding 50 cm3 or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 50 km/h.
L5e		motor tricycles, i.e. vehicles with three symmetrically arranged wheels fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm3 if of the internal combustion type and/or a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h.
L6	3-6	A vehicle with four wheels whose unladen mass is not more than 350 kg, not including the mass of the batteries in case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed is not more than 45 km/h, and whose engine cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3 for spark (positive) ignition engines, or whose maximum net power output does not exceed 4 kW in the case of other internal combustion engines, or whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 4 kW in the case of electric engines.
L6e		light quadricycles whose unladen mass is not more than 350 kg, not including the mass of the batteries in case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed is not more than 45 km/h, and (i) whose engine cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3 for spark (positive) ignition engines, or (ii) whose maximum net power output does not exceed 4 kW in the case of other internal combustion engines, or (iii) whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 4 kW in the case of an electric motor. These vehicles shall fulfil the technical requirements applicable to three-wheel mopeds of category L2e unless specified differently in any of the separate directives;
L7	3-7	A vehicle with four wheels, other than that classified for the category L6, whose unladen mass is not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods), not including the mass of batteries in the case of electric vehicles and whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 15 kW.
L7e		quadricycles, other than those referred to in (a), whose unladen mass is not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods), not including the mass of batteries in the case of electric vehicles, and whose maximum net engine power does not exceed 15 kW. These vehicles shall be considered to be motor tricycles and shall fulfil the technical requirements applicable to motor tricycles of category L5e unless specified differently in any of the separate Directives.
M	1	Power-driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of passengers
M1	1-1	Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat).
M2	1-2	Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum mass not exceeding 5 tonnes.
M3	1-2	Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum mass exceeding 5 tonnes.
N	2	Power-driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of goods
N1	2-1	Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3,5 tonnes.
N2	2-2	Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes.
N3	2-3	Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes.

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