Check an electric bicycle’s basic legal criteria
This is a screening tool, not type approval or legal advice. Enter continuous rated power, not a marketing “peak” figure.
Appears consistent with the basic EAPC criteria
Approval, construction, use and product-safety requirements can still matter even when these headline criteria are met. Check the official guidance below.
The criteria the checker uses
In Great Britain, GOV.UK states that an EAPC must have pedals capable of propelling it. The motor’s continuous rated power must be no more than 250 watts and it must not propel the cycle above 15.5mph. The rider must be at least 14.
Required markings identify the manufacturer and continuous rated power, plus either battery voltage or the maximum speed at which the motor can propel the bicycle. Northern Ireland’s official summary uses the same 250W, 15.5mph, pedal and minimum-age headline tests.
Why throttle questions need care
A throttle or “twist and go” function does not always produce the same legal result. GOV.UK says a cycle that can be propelled without pedalling up to 15.5mph must be approved, and the detailed DfT guidance explains limited exceptions and transitional arrangements. Check the approval marking and exact behaviour rather than relying on a seller’s label.
Definitions and live source material
Use the linked publisher pages for the complete dataset, current policy and any revisions made after this RideIn summary.
- GOV.UK: riding an electric bike — the rules↗Public summary for Great Britain.
- DfT and DVSA: EAPC standards and legal requirements↗Detailed Great Britain guidance, including twist-and-go and off-road modes.
- nidirect: electric bikes in Northern Ireland↗Official Northern Ireland guidance.