E-bike buying advice for UK riders
Legal, comfortable, far enough: e-bikes by motor, battery and UK rules.
City, folding, mountain and cargo e-bikes compared on what matters on a British road: a 250 W motor, assistance that stops at 15.5 mph, a battery big enough for your ride and a frame that fits.
Our top picks
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FEIMOKY HL-4813UK: 48 V 13 Ah, UKCA marked
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UK e-bike law check
EAPC in England, Wales and Scotland
250 W continuous, assistance off at 15.5 mph (24.9 km/h), motor only helps while pedalling. It can be ridden like a pedal bike: no registration, tax, insurance or licence.
The rules in brief: Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983, as amended in 2015 (England, Wales and Scotland). Continuous rated power 250 W or less, assistance stops at 15.5 mph (25 km/h), the motor only assists while pedalling except walk-assist up to 6 km/h, rider aged 14 or over.
This check is general information, not legal advice. Read the official rules at gov.uk/electric-bike-rules. Northern Ireland has different rules: see nidirect.
Common e-bike problems
Batteries that will not charge, motors that cut out, displays that show an error: causes and fixes.
- No power or no assistElectric bike not working? Check the battery, key, connectors, brake cut-off sensors, display and motor cable in order before you book a shop visit.
- Motor cuts out while ridingWhy an e-bike motor cuts out on hills or bumps: low-voltage cut-off, loose connectors, brake sensors, speed sensor magnets and overheating, with checks.
- Blank or faulty displayE-bike display blank, flickering or showing an error code? Trace the cause through the battery, plugs, settings and controller with these checks.
- Battery will not chargeWhy an e-bike battery will not charge: charger lights, plug fuse, connectors, cold, deep discharge and BMS cut-outs, with safe checks and when to replace the pack.
E-bike types
Choose by how you ride: commuting, folding onto a train, trails, carrying loads or converting a bike you own.
- City and hybrid e-bikesPedal-assist hybrids, step-through frames and light commuters that meet the UK EAPC rules for road use.8 guides · 3 buying guides
- Folding e-bikesFolding e-bikes for trains, flats and car boots, compared by folded size, weight, motor and battery.3 guides · 1 buying guide
- Electric mountain bikesE-MTBs for trails and bridleways, with suspension, tyres and motor torque explained in plain terms.1 guide · 1 buying guide
- Cargo e-bikesLongtails, utility e-bikes and trailers for the school run, shopping and carrying loads around town.2 guides · 1 buying guide
- Conversion kitsFront hub, rear hub and mid-drive kits that turn the bike you already own into a 250 W pedal-assist e-bike.5 guides · 0 buying guides
- Batteries, range and fixesBattery size in Wh, real-world range, charging, storage and the faults that stop an e-bike working.11 guides · 2 buying guides
- UK e-bike lawThe EAPC rules on power, assisted speed, throttles and age, and what happens when a bike goes beyond them.9 guides · 0 buying guides
Calculators
Check a bike against the UK rules and work out battery size, charge cost and range.
Comparisons
- Torque sensor vs cadence sensorHow torque and cadence sensors decide when an e-bike motor helps, why it changes the feel at junctions and on climbs, and which suits commuting, hills and range.
- Swytch vs Bafang conversion kitsSwytch front hub kits with a handlebar battery against Bafang mid-drives: fitting, hills, weight, UK 250 W versions and which bike and rider each suits.
- Hub motor vs mid-drive e-bikesHub motors and mid-drives compared: where each sits, how they feel on hills, what wears faster, which is easier to repair and which suits conversion kits.
- Folding vs full-size electric bikeFolding and full-size e-bikes compared on ride feel, wheel size, weight, battery and storage, so you know when the fold is worth the small-wheel trade-offs.
- Fiido vs ENGWE: which e-bike brand suits you?Fiido and ENGWE compared on range layout, UK 250 W versions, folding models, torque sensors and spares support, with the checks to make before buying either brand.
- Electric bike vs hybrid bike: what is the difference?Electric and hybrid bikes compared on weight, hills, running cost in kWh, maintenance and storage, so you can decide whether a motor is worth it for your riding.
Buying guides
One type of e-bike or kit per guide, compared on motor, battery and the facts the listings state.
Guides & advice
- What size e-bike battery do you need?Work out what size e-bike battery you need: volts times amp hours gives Wh, then match it to your commute distance, hills and how often you can charge.
- What is an electric hybrid bike?An electric hybrid bike is a hybrid frame with a pedal-assist motor. Here is what that means and how it differs from city, trekking and road e-bikes.
- What is an electric cargo bike?What an electric cargo bike is: longtail, front-loader and utility layouts explained, with load ratings in kg and storage needs for UK homes.
- What e-bike should I buy?What e-bike should you buy? A short decision path by journey, storage and terrain that points you to the right type of e-bike and the guide to read next.
- UK e-bike law explainedThe EAPC rules for e-bikes in Great Britain: 250 W motor, assistance to 15.5 mph, pedal assist only, a rider age of 14 and what happens if a bike goes beyond them.
- UK e-bike law changes: what has changed and what is proposedHow UK e-bike rules changed in 2015 and 2016, why proposals and enforcement news come up, and how to check gov.uk for the rules in force before you buy or ride.