UK EAPC Standards – Ride Legal with Prime Pedals

At Prime Pedals, we’re proud to retail some of the world’s leading e-bike and e-scooter brands here in the UK. To help our customers ride confidently and responsibly, it’s important to understand the UK’s Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) standards — which define what types of electric bikes can be legally used on public roads and cycle paths.

In the UK, only vehicles that meet the government’s definition of an EAPC are treated like conventional bicycles. That means they can be used on public roads, cycle lanes, and shared paths without registration, vehicle tax, or insurance.

However, e-scooters, throttle-controlled e-bikes, and e-bikes with motors rated above 250 W fall outside the EAPC category. These can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission. It remains illegal to use them on public roads, cycle paths, bridleways, or pavements unless they are fully registered and insured as motor vehicles.

To qualify as an EAPC, a bike must:

  • Have pedals that can propel it.

  • Use a motor with a maximum continuous power output of 250 W.

  • Stop motor assistance at 15.5 mph (25 km/h).

  • Be used by riders aged 14 years or older.

At Prime Pedals, we’re committed to offering only UK-compliant e-bikes that meet EAPC regulations — so you can ride legally, safely, and with complete peace of mind on every journey.

For complete details and the latest legal guidance, please visit the official UK Government page on Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs)