E-BIKES
Pedal bike rules, within limits
GOV.UK says an e-bike that meets the EAPC rules (250 watts, motor cuts out at 15.5mph) can be ridden from age 14 with no licence, tax or insurance.
Check your rideStart
WHAT THE RULES SAY
Know the rules
before you ride.
Not every electric ride is treated the same.
In Great Britain a qualifying e-bike is ridden like a pedal bike, a rental e-scooter needs a driving licence, and a private e-scooter belongs on private land. The batteries in all of them need careful charging.
15.5 MPHwhere the motor stops
Check your rideKeep in mind
- Check it is an EAPC
- Private land only for private e-scooters
- Never charge while asleep
- Legal riding, safer charging
THE SHORT ANSWER
Bike, scooter
or motor vehicle?
The law depends on what the machine can do.
The fire risk depends on how you charge it.
E-SCOOTERS
Private ones stay private
Private e-scooters count as motor vehicles. GOV.UK says it is illegal to use them on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes; private land with permission is fine.
Read more
CHARGING
Most fires start on charge
London Fire Brigade says most e-bike and e-scooter fires happen while the battery is charging. Use the right charger and never leave it charging while you sleep.
How to chargeA QUICK RIDE CHECK
What are you
riding, and where?
Pick the machine and place to see what GOV.UK says. The bar shows how many extra legal requirements apply.
Based on GOV.UK guidance for Great Britain. This is general information, not legal advice.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
One speed limit,
one fire warning.
One figure from the law on e-bikes,
one from the capital's fire brigade.
15.5 mph
Where an EAPC motor must stop helping
An e-bike's motor must not propel it above 15.5mph, and its continuous rated power must be no more than 250 watts. The same 15.5mph is the top speed for rental e-scooters in the trials.
SPEED · GOV.UK
1 every 2 days
How often a battery fire happens in London
London Fire Brigade says that, on average, there is a fire from a lithium-ion battery in an e-bike or e-scooter every two days in London, and many happen at home while batteries are charging.
FIRES · LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
GOV.UK figures apply in Great Britain. London Fire Brigade figures from its e-bikes and e-scooters fire safety pages.
FOUR CHARGING HABITS
Charge it like
it matters.
London Fire Brigade's advice needs no special kit. It is mostly about the right charger, the right place and the right time.
Step 1
Use the right charger
Use the charger supplied with the battery or one the manufacturer recommends, and unplug it once charging has finished.
Step 2
Pick a hard, flat spot
Charge on a hard, flat surface where heat can escape, away from main through-routes and never blocking your way out.
Step 3
Let it cool, stay awake
Let the battery cool after a ride before charging, and never leave it charging unattended or while you are asleep.
Step 4
Fit an alarm, retire damage
Fit a smoke alarm where you charge. A battery that has been dropped or damaged should not be used.
PRIVATE E-SCOOTERS
Easy to buy,
hard to ride legally.
DfT and DVSA guidance says e-scooters, Segways, hoverboards and powered unicycles are "powered transporters", which fall within the legal definition of a motor vehicle. There is no special legal regime for them, so motor vehicle law applies.
The government trials cover approved rental e-scooters only; the rules for private e-scooters have not changed. Using one on a public road without meeting requirements that users "will find very difficult" is an offence, and pavements and cycle lanes are off limits.
Questions
Questions on the way
Do I need a licence for an electric bike?
Not if it is an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC). GOV.UK says you can ride one from age 14 without a licence, and it does not need to be registered, taxed or insured.
What makes an e-bike an EAPC?
It must have pedals that can propel it, a motor with a continuous rated power of no more than 250 watts, and a motor that cannot propel it above 15.5mph. It must be marked with its power output and maker, and either the battery voltage or the motor's maximum speed.
Can I ride my own e-scooter on the road?
No. Private e-scooters are treated as motor vehicles, and GOV.UK says using one on a public road, pavement or cycle lane is illegal. You can use one on private land with the landowner's permission.
Do I need a helmet on a rental e-scooter?
Helmets are recommended but are not a legal requirement on trial rental e-scooters. The guidance also says to wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing so other road users can see you.
Is it safe to charge an e-bike overnight?
London Fire Brigade advises never leaving a battery charging unattended or while you are asleep, as most e-bike and e-scooter fires happen during charging.
Destination