All Bikes

Actually, “ebike” and “electric bike” mean the same thing — they’re just different ways of saying it.

Both refer to a bicycle equipped with an electric motor to assist pedalling or provide full electric propulsion.

It depends on the type of electric bike you have! In the UK, there are two main types of e-bikes with different pedalling rules.

Pedal-Assist E-Bikes (Pedelecs)

• You have to pedal for the motor to provide assistance.
• The motor boosts your pedalling effort up to 15.5 mph (25 km/h).
• Once you stop pedalling or exceed the speed limit, the motor stops helping.
• These are the most common type and are treated like regular bikes under UK law (no licence needed).

Throttle-Controlled E-Bikes

• You can use a throttle (like a motorbike) to propel the bike without pedalling.
• In the UK, these are classed as motor vehicles and require a licence, insurance, and registration.
• They’re less common and generally not legal to use on public roads or cycle paths unless registered and insured as mopeds or motorcycles.
  

Most UK-legal electric bikes require pedaling to engage the motor.

No, you do not need L plates on a UK electric bike if it meets the legal requirements for an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) — which most common pedal-assist e-bikes do.

• The e-bike’s motor only assists when you pedal (pedal-assist)
• Motor power is 250 watts or less.
• Motor assistance cuts out at 15.5 mph (25 km/h) or below.
• The bike has working pedals and can be used as a normal bicycle.
• The bike is used on public roads and cycle paths.

If your e-bike meets these rules, it’s treated like a regular bicycle under UK law, so no licence, insurance, registration, or L plates are required.


When you do need L plates:

• If your electric bike can be powered without pedalling (i.e., throttle-controlled).
• If it can go faster than 15.5 mph under motor power alone.
• Then it’s classified as a moped or motorcycle, and L plates, insurance, registration, and a licence are required.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

In the UK, the legal speed limit for a pedal-assist eBike (Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle, or EAPC) is 15.5 mph (25 km/h).


If an eBike can go faster than 15.5 mph with motor power alone, it’s classified as a moped or motorcycle.

Most e-bikes do not charge their batteries as you ride — they use their battery power to assist you, but don’t regenerate energy during pedalling or braking like some electric cars or e-scooters with regenerative braking do.

• Standard e-bikes: Battery drains as you pedal or use motor assist; you must plug in to recharge.
• Regenerative braking: Some high-end or experimental e-bikes have regenerative braking systems that recover a small amount of energy when slowing down or going downhill, but this usually adds only a little extra range.
• This tech is rare in consumer e-bikes because it adds weight, cost, and complexity.

You still need to charge your e-bike battery from a power outlet regularly; pedalling doesn’t recharge it.

E-bikes actually use very little electricity compared to many other electric vehicles, making them an efficient and eco-friendly transport option.

• A full charge typically consumes about 0.3 to 0.6 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.
• On average, an e-bike battery is around 300 to 600 watt-hours (Wh).
• Charging an e-bike battery fully usually costs just a few pence (a few cents) depending on your local electricity rates.
• If you ride daily, the monthly electricity cost is typically less than £1–£2.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Pedal-assist e-bikes provide motor help up to 15.5 mph (25 km/h). So you can reach and maintain this speed more easily, especially uphill or against wind. You can still pedal faster than 15.5 mph, but the motor won’t assist beyond that speed. Compared to a non-electric bike, you’ll likely feel less tired and can keep a steady pace longer.

No, in the UK you do not need a licence to ride a legal electric bike (an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle or EAPC) if it meets these rules:

• The motor assists only when you pedal (pedal-assist).
• Motor power is 250 watts or less.
• Motor assistance stops at 15.5 mph (25 km/h).
• The bike has working pedals and can be used as a regular bike.
  

If the e-bike has a throttle and can be powered without pedaling, or can go faster than 15.5 mph under motor power alone, it’s classified as a moped or motorcycle. Then you do need a licence, insurance, and registration to ride it legally on public roads.

Yes, electric bikes are legal in the UK as long as they meet specific requirements set by the law. These are known as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs).

If the e-bike can be powered solely by the motor (throttle-controlled) or goes faster than 15.5 mph under motor power, it’s classified as a moped or motorcycle. Then it needs licence, insurance, registration, and must follow moped/motorcycle laws.