The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and the Bicycle Association (BA) have published a new national guide aimed at helping police forces identify and enforce against illegal, non-compliant and high-powered electric bikes.

It warns that the rapid growth of such vehicles is creating a significant road safety and enforcement challenge across the UK.

Along with e-scooters, their rise in popularity and lack of effective legal regulation is proving a significant concern for road safety professionals, trading standards and enforcement officers.

Riding fashion

The guide, A Guide to Identifying Non-Compliant E-Bikes, was released on 3 June and is intended to support frontline officers in determining whether a vehicle qualifies as a legal electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC) or should instead be treated as a moped or motorcycle subject to licensing, registration and insurance requirements.

Under current UK regulations, a legal EAPC must have pedals capable of propelling the cycle, an electric motor with a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watts, and motor assistance that cuts out at 15.5mph (25km/h).

Riders must be aged 14 or over, but do not need a driving licence, vehicle tax, registration or insurance.

Vehicles that exceed those limits are classified as motor vehicles and must comply with the same legal requirements as mopeds or motorcycles.

Rise of two wheels

According to the MCIA and BA, increasing numbers of high-powered machines are being sold and used as “e-bikes” despite offering moped- or motorcycle-level performance.

The organisations argue that many are operating outside the legal framework, creating what they describe as a “parallel, unregulated mobility market”.

The industry bodies point to a more than 40% fall in registrations of new L1 mopeds since 2022, which they say has coincided with the rise of illegal e-bikes being used as de facto mopeds without licensing, registration or insurance.

Police forces have repeatedly raised concerns about the issue.

Following discussions with chief constables, police and crime commissioners and the policing minister, the MCIA said forces reported that illegal e-bikes are becoming an increasingly complex enforcement problem.

Officers also said that a lack of clear national guidance on identifying and seizing non-compliant vehicles has hindered consistent enforcement.

Forces have further reported that operations targeting illegal e-bikes have uncovered wider criminal activity, including offences linked to illegal working, exploitation, drugs and weapons.

Enforcing the law and safety

The new guide seeks to address that gap by providing officers with a practical framework for assessing vehicles that sit close to the legal boundary between EAPCs and motor vehicles.

It outlines how to determine whether a vehicle meets the legal EAPC definition, whether type approval is required through Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) or Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA), and whether it is being operated within legal limits.

The publication comes amid wider concerns about the safety impacts of illegal and modified electric vehicles.

Official statistics show there were 1,390 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters in Great Britain during 2024, including six fatalities and 444 serious injuries.

Separate data from the Office for Product Safety and Standards recorded 211 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters in 2024, resulting in eight deaths and 86 non-fatal casualties.

The Fire emergency service has been raising concerns about the rise in severe house fires caused by e-bike and e-scooter chargers, often resulting in intense fires, especially during the night when vehicles are charging overnight.

Many incidents involved converted or modified e-bikes, often using inappropriate or non-original chargers.

Dangerous populism

Tony Campbell, Chief Executive of the MCIA, said: “What we are seeing is the rapid emergence of an unregulated market in illegal, non-compliant and high-powered e-bikes. This creates real public safety risks, undermines legitimate manufacturers and retailers who invest in compliance, and places growing pressure on police forces.

“Officers have told us they need clearer, consistent guidance on identifying and dealing with these vehicles. The guide we have developed with the Bicycle Association is a useful step, but not a complete solution. National clarity, consistent policy and coordinated action across government – including stronger oversight of the supply chain and delivery sector – are urgently required. Police cannot solve this alone.”

Steve Garidis, Executive Director of the BA, added: “Reputable suppliers of road legal e-bikes go to considerable effort and expense to ensure that their e-bikes are compliant with UK legislation, and tested thoroughly to international standards.

“So it’s dismaying to see the strong safety record and public reputation of road-legal e-bikes undermined by these illegal and unsafe vehicles.”

Time to act

Both organisations are calling on the Home Office and Department for Transport to introduce a clear national enforcement framework this year, strengthen action against online marketplaces and retailers selling non-compliant vehicles, require greater oversight of delivery fleets and gig-economy platforms, and convene a ministerial summit with industry, policing and emergency service representatives before the end of the summer.

The intervention reflects growing frustration within the sector that, despite consultations and discussions on e-bike/scooter regulation, ministers have yet to introduce a coordinated national response to the expanding market for illegal high-powered electric vehicles.