Electric Bikes

Choosing an electric bike in the UK

An electric bike adds quiet assistance while you pedal, so hills, headwinds and longer distances stop being a reason to take the car or the bus. For most people in a city, it replaces a good share of short journeys: the commute, the school run, errands and weekend rides.

Start with how you ride

• Daily commute: look for range that covers your round trip with a margin, mudguards, a rack and integrated lights.
• Stairs or a small flat: weight matters more than range. A lightweight or folding e-bike is far easier to live with.
• Train and office: a folding e-bike travels with you and fits under a desk.
• Children or shopping: a cargo e-bike carries loads that would be impossible on a normal bike.

The UK rules in short

In England, Scotland and Wales, an electric bike that meets the EAPC rules (motor up to 250 W, assistance up to 15.5 mph, rider aged 14 or over) is treated like a normal bicycle: no licence, registration, tax or insurance, and you can ride it on cycle paths. Motor figures for the bikes listed here are supplier specifications that we are still verifying, so we do not yet describe them as EAPC compliant; ask us before ordering if you plan to ride on public roads. Read UK electric bike laws, explained for the details. Our City Journal covers range, motors, batteries and sizing in more detail.

Not sure where to start?

Try the Bike Finder: four questions about your day, and we suggest the kind of bike that fits it.