E-bikes: new safety rules for conversion kits, 2026

On 11 November 2026 the government published new guidance on e-bike conversion kits — the motor (and sometimes battery and charger) sets that turn an ordinary pedal bike into an electric one. The guidance does not create new law; it clarifies how existing product safety rules already apply to these kits. It is a response to the growing number of fires linked to unsafe e-bikes and cheap conversion kits.

What does the new guidance actually change?

Legally, nothing: it creates no new obligations. It explains to sellers and manufacturers how to comply with the existing Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and helps enforcing authorities identify and act on unsafe kits. The guidance covers ALL conversion kits that include an electric motor — whether or not a battery and charger come with the set.

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Under the guidance a responsible business must give the buyer full product information and user instructions, and affix the required product marking to the item itself.

When is an e-bike legally just a bicycle?

When it meets the definition of an EAPC (electrically assisted pedal cycle), which the law treats as an ordinary bike. All conditions must be met: working pedals; a motor with a continuous rated power output of no more than 250 watts; and a motor that stops assisting at 15.5 mph (about 25 km/h). You can ride one if you are 14 or over.

An EAPC needs no licence, registration, tax or insurance. You can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere pedal bikes are allowed, but not on pavements. The frame must show the continuous rated power and the manufacturer, plus either the battery voltage or the maximum speed the motor can propel it.

When does it become a moped — and why it matters

If the motor is more powerful than 250 watts, propels the bike faster than 15.5 mph, or the bike has no working pedals, it is legally a moped or motorcycle. Then you need registration with the DVLA, vehicle tax, insurance, a driving licence and a motorcycle helmet that meets British standards; you may ride only on the road, not on cycle tracks. If such a vehicle is uninsured, you risk a fine or having the bike seized by police.

'Twist and go' models (propelled up to 15.5 mph without pedalling) must have vehicle type approval, which the manufacturer or importer should have obtained before sale.

Why are 'fast' conversion kits dangerous?

The guidance is blunt: a kit that lets a bike travel faster than 15.5 mph, even if safely made, is illegal to use on the road combined with a pedal bike — unless the bike is registered and insured and the rider has a licence and helmet. A well-made kit does not make a de-restricted bike legal.

How to choose a safe kit and avoid a fire

• check the marking: the continuous rated power and the manufacturer must be shown;
• insist on instructions and product documentation — without them the seller breaches the Regulations;
• stay within EAPC limits: 250 watts and 15.5 mph, or the bike becomes a moped;
• choose a lithium-ion battery that follows the government's 2024 safety guidelines.

The 2024 Statutory Guidelines on Lithium-ion Batteries for E-bikes and the Buy Safe, Be Safe campaign give further help on choosing, storing and charging. Fires most often involve cheap conversion kits and uncertified chargers.