Everything Davebugg says above is spot-on, he usually is concise and accurate.
The current Pilgrim Office policy regarding e-bikes and obtaining the Compostela is as follows:
- Any such bicycle MUST HAVE PEDALS connected to the drive wheel(s).
- A bicycle with an auxiliary electric motor IS PERMISSIBLE, PROVIDED that the rider MUST PEDAL to cause the electric boost motor to operate.
- If you can coast or ride the bicycle purely in electric mode, WITHOUT THE NEED TO PEDAL as long as you have a battery charge, the device is considered an electric scooter (think battery powered Vespa) and is NOT PERMISSIBLE, PERIOD! This does not affect downhill coasting.
- Security personnel have been trained to observe and spot bicycle designed to operate without pedaling. They will turn you away.
- The same 200 km minimum distance applies, as for ALL bicycle type devices. On the Camino Frances, this has generally been regarded as starting in Ponferrada.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about this. I have ridden e-bicycles and clearly appreciate their benefit and use. All the models I have ridden require that you be pedaling, at some pace, for the electric assist motor to kick-in and contribute to forward torque. The added torque is very useful on any uphill section.
In fact, if my knees do not improve, I may do this in future. Needs must...
My sense from half a century or more of conventional bicycle riding is that the benefits of an e-bike are largely wasted off-road, on trails. This is because the presence of long stretches of even ground, on which the electric assist really helps are few and separated.
Also, e-bikes are significantly heavier than regular bikes, including mountain bikes. The typical e-bike weighs something like 23 kilos unloaded with gear. Thus, they are much more difficult to man-handle over rough bits on any trail. This could be dangerous, both to the rider as well as walking pilgrims.
My advice would be to stick to the road system, secondary and tertiary, if you want to use an e-bike. If I were to do a bicycle Camino using an e-mike, I would plan a mostly if not totally road based route. These routes DO exist. There ARE guides. If you look at any detailed map of any Camino route, you will see that there are adjacent roads that get you to the same places. In fact the N-120 largely parallels the entire
Camino Frances in Spain. And there are smaller roads and farm roads that parallel even this road.
It is simply more considerate of walking pilgrims and safer for all, if ALL BICYCLISTS were to remain on paved surfaces and away from the walking trails. But, this please is NEVER honored, so y'all be very careful out there, be visible, USE A DAMN BELL, and SHARE THE PATH!
Also, if you do bring an e-bike ONLY get one with a removable battery for charging. This is both for security, and to be able to charge the battery overnight, without needing a REALLY Long extension cord. Just sayin.
Hope this clarifies.