The convenient and eco-friendly nature of electric bicycles is resulting in a continued growth in their popularity. This in combination with an exciting riding experience creates a real alternative to traditional bicycles, public transport or cars.
What is an ebike?
An ebike (or electric bike) is usually defined as an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC) that features a rechargeable battery and an electric motor that helps to drive the pedals.
As ebikes become more and more common on the roads, it’s no surprise that the number of legislations around them have increased as well. The UK government released new electric bike laws in the UK in 2015, and there’s a couple of key conditions to consider.
Are electric bikes road legal in the UK?
For an electric bike to be legal in the UK it needs to be supplied with a pedal-assist motor and have a maximum power output of 250 watts. The electrical motor must turn off when the bike reaches a speed of 15.5 mph or 25kmph, and the bike cannot be ridden by anyone under the age of 14 years old.
Do you need a license to ride an ebike?
As long as your electric bike meets the definition of an EAPC listed above, then it’s perfect legal to ride it without a license on UK roads. If your bike can be propelled without the need for pedalling (like a “twist and go” bike or a throttle bike) then it does not comply with the EAPC rules and is defined as a motor vehicle in the Road Traffic Act. This would mean that it requires registration with the DVLA as well as insurance and road tax (that is unless it has been specifically “type approved” by the UK government). Check out the gov.uk page on Electric bikes: licensing, tax and insurance for more info.
Global Electric Bike Laws
The regulations around electric bikes are different from country to country, but some common trends are starting to arise.
One of the newer legislations trends in legislation is the increase in the use of ebike “classes” in order to categorise different types of bikes. These classes are not in force in the UK yet, but with the increased adoption in America and the increase in global ebike regulation, it’s worth familiarising yourself with them now.
The classifications are primarily based on top speed and the method of motor assistance. Similarly to the UK’s EAPC laws, the ability to propel your ebike with a throttle only will impact it’s classification, as will the top speed of the motor assistance.
Some of these terms may be confusing at first, so let’s look at some simple definitions.
What is a throttle electric bike?
A throttle electric bike (sometimes referred to as a “twist and go” ebike) can drive the wheels without the need for pedalling through the use of a throttle powered electric motor. The throttle is usually a twistable grip or handle, allowing you to increase the output of the motor (and in turn the speed of travel) as you twist the throttle further towards you.
What is a pedal-assist electric bike?
Pedal-assist electric bikes use an electric motor to make pedalling far easier for the rider. This may happen automatically as the user pedals, or the bike may offer different levels of assistance for the user to choose from.
If you’re struggling to differentiate the pros and cons of each, check out the summaries below.
Throttle Electric Bike Overview
The ability to propel the bike forward by just turning the throttle makes throttle ebikes desirable for many riders. They offer a level of excitement and effortlessness that’s difficult to find in pedal-assist bikes.
Here’s some of the key pros and cons of throttle electric bikes:
Pros:
- Usually faster to accelerate than pedal-assist bikes
- Low effort required from the user (great for riders who struggle to pedal)
- The throttle offers more control over speed than automatic pedal assist
Cons:
- May not be classed as an EAPC under UK law (unless the bike also offers pedal-assist, has a maximum power output of 250 watts and a top speed of 15.5mph/25kmph)
- Usually more expensive than pedal-assist alternatives
- May be more dangerous if not ridden carefully
Pedal-assist Electric Bike Overview
Pedal-assist electric bikes can be a great choice for cyclists who just want a little bit of extra assistance when tacking tough hills and trails. The 2015 UK ebike laws discussed above allow these bikes to be ridden without a license, which may make them more desirable for some riders.
Here’s some of the key pros and cons of pedal-assist electric bikes:
Pros:
- Likely safer than throttle electric bikes due to the gradual increase in motor assistance
- Usually cheaper than throttle ebike alternatives
- Usually classed as an EAPC under 2015 UK legislation (as long as it has a maximum power output of 250 watts and a top speed of 15.5mph/25kmph)
Cons:
- Usually slower to accelerate than throttle ebike alternatives
- Usually offer less control over speed than throttle ebike equivalents
- Still requires the user to pedal in some capacity
Are electric bikes road legal in the UK? These are the 3 key factors
Electric bike legislation can be difficult to understand, especially with all of the technical jargon that surrounds it.
We’ve simplified this into the three key factors below:
Wattage
In the context of electric bikes, wattage measures the energy output of the bike, describing the amount of energy used to propel it. This is a really important consideration when you look at the legislation, as ebikes of any kind need to have a max wattage of 250 watts to be classified as legal to ride on UK roads (and that’s regardless oftop speed or method of motor assistance).
Top Speed
Another key consideration is the top speed of an electric bike. Similarly to wattage, this can directly impact the legality of an electric bike regardless of motor assistance. If an ebike has a top speed greater than 15.5mph, it is not legal on UK roads.
Motor Assistance
Motor assistance describes the way in which the electric motor propels an electric bike. The two main types of motor assistance are throttle (where the motor is activated directly using the throttle) and pedal assist (where the motor activates automatically as the rider pedals). This has a direct effect on the legality of an ebike, as any throttle ebike that doesn’t also offer pedal assist cannot be classified as an EAPC (electrically assisted pedal cycle), and therefor must be registered, taxed and insured.
Thanks for reading our article explaining the UK laws around electric bikes. Hopefully this has helped you to identify some of the key considerations around ebike legality.
If you’re interested in throttle ebikes you may want to take a look at our article on the The 5 Best Throttle Electric Bikes UK.
If you’re more interested in affordability, check out our article on Best Electric Bike Under £500.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
