Electric Moped - UK street legal?

[IceBoy]

Hi All,

I have a birthday coming up and wanted a little toy for the man cave.

Anyway, I have come across a number of companies selling moped which are fully electric with approx 30 miles range.

These look like retro Vespa style mopeds and are about the same size.

The only information, I am coming across online is in reference to electric scooters, like the kids ride around on.

Can anyone point me to information on road tax, insurance and legalities of riding these on the road?

IceBoy

[Jaaws]

Are the ones you've looked at Type Apppproved? viz
https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

[granada203028]

There appear to be 1000s on eBay. How do they avoid all the listing fees? Doesn't look like they are legal.

I suggest you read the DVLA rules, looks complex.

My conversion from a 100CC 2 stroke is classed as a proper motor cycle so needs a full motor cycle licence.

[Mikebentley]

A man in my hometown has a Vectrix. He’s had it for at least 5yrs to my knowledge. I think the new ones claim 280km range and 10yr battery life.

[kambites]

As above anything which is capable of applying power without you peddling will need full EU type approval and you'll need a bike licence of some sort to ride it. I suppose it might be possible to SVA one of the cheap chinese ones off ebay, but it would probably be cheaper in the long run to just buy an approved bike.

You seem to be able to get a road-legal one for a couple of grand.


They do look quite tempting for a short commute although I don't think I'd want one limited to 28mph unless I was never going to leave 30 limits.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 22 September 09:37

[sjg]

This guy did a motorcycle SVA test on his homebuilt one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHoMJqCrN2o

If it meets the requirements and is safe it should be fine. The inspection manual is towards the end of this page. https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/motorcycle-sin...

[911newbie]

Possible thread hijak - sorry in advance.

My employer has now banned diesels from the car park.
My current car (diesel) will have to stay home, even though there are plenty of days when I need to go visit someone the other side of the county.

So what I want is something electric (allowed in the car parks), that can get me in to my office, whilst wearing a suit, about 1 mile and up a long steep hill.
I may weigh a tad over 100kgs.

I would bike it, and possibly lose some chubbs too, but I'd end up in my first appointment of the day like a total sweat monster.

Electric moped like a Niu Uqui Pro (1200 W motor) ?
Electric scooter like the Ninebot things ? (250 W motor) ?
Learn to master an electric unicycle ?

Happy to wear a helmet and dayglo vest, but prefer not full leathers etc.

None of this works v well in the pouring rain I know....

[ElectricSoup]

911newbie said:

Possible thread hijak - sorry in advance.

My employer has now banned diesels from the car park.
My current car (diesel) will have to stay home, even though there are plenty of days when I need to go visit someone the other side of the county.

So what I want is something electric (allowed in the car parks), that can get me in to my office, whilst wearing a suit, about 1 mile and up a long steep hill.
I may weigh a tad over 100kgs.

I would bike it, and possibly lose some chubbs too, but I'd end up in my first appointment of the day like a total sweat monster.

Electric moped like a Niu Uqui Pro (1200 W motor) ?
Electric scooter like the Ninebot things ? (250 W motor) ?
Learn to master an electric unicycle ?

Happy to wear a helmet and dayglo vest, but prefer not full leathers etc.

None of this works v well in the pouring rain I know....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143729445

[Toaster Pilot]

911newbie said:

Possible thread hijak - sorry in advance.

My employer has now banned diesels from the car park.
My current car (diesel) will have to stay home, even though there are plenty of days when I need to go visit someone the other side of the county.

So what I want is something electric (allowed in the car parks), that can get me in to my office, whilst wearing a suit, about 1 mile and up a long steep hill.
I may weigh a tad over 100kgs.

I would bike it, and possibly lose some chubbs too, but I'd end up in my first appointment of the day like a total sweat monster.

Electric moped like a Niu Uqui Pro (1200 W motor) ?
Electric scooter like the Ninebot things ? (250 W motor) ?
Learn to master an electric unicycle ?

Happy to wear a helmet and dayglo vest, but prefer not full leathers etc.

None of this works v well in the pouring rain I know....

Walk?

[granada203028]

Mikebentley said:

A man in my hometown has a Vectrix. He’s had it for at least 5yrs to my knowledge. I think the new ones claim 280km range and 10yr battery life.

Yes the Vectrix stuff looks pretty smart. At 123Kg the VX2 is as expect heavy, they don't even quote for the VX1....

[911newbie]

ElectricSoup said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

You know what, that might just work !

[911newbie]

Toaster Pilot said:

Walk?

Could do, and sometimes do do, but it's slow.
If the weather is nice, and I've not got 1 millions things to do, walking is v pleasant.

But it's probably 15 mins in and 15 mins out walking, plus repeat if I have to nip back home and jump in the car to pop out to a meeting.

That's an hour, instead of 10-15 mins total in the car or on a bike.


Neither walking, nor bike/moped/unicycle really solve the problem of rain + parking restrictions.

[LunarOne]

911newbie said:

ElectricSoup said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

You know what, that might just work !

You'll need to budget for a monochrome feline as well.

[Toaster Pilot]

911newbie said:

Could do, and sometimes do do, but it's slow.
If the weather is nice, and I've not got 1 millions things to do, walking is v pleasant.

But it's probably 15 mins in and 15 mins out walking, plus repeat if I have to nip back home and jump in the car to pop out to a meeting.

That's an hour, instead of 10-15 mins total in the car or on a bike.


Neither walking, nor bike/moped/unicycle really solve the problem of rain + parking restrictions.

If you need an electric car and not a bike/etc then you either buy something utterly st like a G-Wiz/Aixam Mega City Electric (sub £2k) or a Renault Twizy (£5k). Early Leaf or iMiev/C-Zero if you want an actual car (similarly about £5k) Up to you whether it’s worth it.

.... I don’t know how many of the Aixams actually exist in the U.K. - one of them is in bits in my unit

[BertBert]

911newbie said:

My employer has now banned diesels from the car park.

Just curious, on what basis?

[LunarOne]

BertBert said:

911newbie said:

My employer has now banned diesels from the car park.

Just curious, on what basis?

I hope his employer doesn't need anything delivered. Not even an order of paperclips from Amazon.

[CDP]

BertBert said:

911newbie said:

My employer has now banned diesels from the car park.

Just curious, on what basis?

V8 petrols just sound better.

[911newbie]

LunarOne said:

BertBert said:

911newbie said:

My employer has now banned diesels from the car park.

Just curious, on what basis?

I hope his employer doesn't need anything delivered. Not even an order of paperclips from Amazon.

Their claimed arugment is 'environment'. We have a parking fee based on vehcile CO2 output (and salary), so if you are one of the top earners and drive a sports car you pay quite a bit just for the pleasure of parking at work. Cleaners using a small car pay next to nothing, which is fair.

But now they've put a blanket ban on a number of vehicle types, incl diesels like mine.

In reality they want rid of car parks, which is why they don't care about diesel delivery vans etc.

I've started to warm the wife up (ooh err missus !) vis a vis switching our cars to electric. She's fine with it, expect the cost....

[LunarOne]

Personally I'd be loathe to let my employer bully me into a more environmentally friendly car. Much as I dislike diesels, they have their uses and if your personal life requires activities like towing horseboxes or boats or trailers full of fat ladies who sing, then what business is it of your employer to control what kind of car you have unless they are paying for it? I'd be looking at getting a new job rather than a new car! What happens if you have a collection of cars and bring a different one to work every day?