LATEST ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE NEWS: UK & IRELAND

What are the latest regulations for electric mopeds and motorbikes in UK & Ireland?

As consumers are increasingly considering switching to sustainable transportation to help reduce fossil fuel emissions, governments are trying to make using them as attractive and convenient as possible while striking the right balance with safety, and that’s where regulations come in. They can vary in different regions around the world with factors such as licensing eligibility. 

To increase accessibility to sustainable transportation and help accelerate industry growth, the MCIA (the UK’s Motorcycle Industry Association) has advised regulations for e-motorcycles and mopeds to be changed in the United Kingdom. We’ve taken a look at some factors from its proposal with recent regulations that have been implemented in Ireland and other countries. 

The UK and its journey to sustainability in the transportation sector

The UK’s government has been committed to reducing fossil fuel emissions and encouraging electric travel, with enforcements such as banning sales of new petrol motorcycles from 2035. The ban means that the motorbike sector has to adapt and innovate in developing non-gasoline bikes to remain as competitive as possible, to survive and attract new consumers. 

The MCIA, which represents 90% of the UK’s powered light vehicle industry, feels that more needs to be done to create a stable market environment. With its recent announcement that L category vehicle sales (motorized scooters and motorcycles that have zero or low emissions) experienced a 7% sales decrease in July, it asks the government to reform its current policies to bring security and confidence for the industry and consumers, stating that “with current regulations, they risk stifling innovation and preventing manufacturers bringing new products to market”.

MCIA’s License to Net Zero 

In October 2023 MCIA introduced its License to Net Zero campaign, calling for the government to review its L-Category licensing process of mopeds and motorcycles to make it less complex and costly for UK riders, to help the transportation sector transition to low and zero emissions by 2050. 

MCIA believes that its licensing changes can encourage new users to embrace sustainable modes of travel, maximizing their effectiveness as cost-effective, versatile transportation solutions that ease congestion, reduce emissions, and are accessible to end-users and businesses. Their campaign emphasizes that by helping to improve the uptake of mopeds and motorcycles, the industry's manufacturing and supply chain will be nurtured, giving it a better chance to develop and innovate low and zero emission products for consumers.

Proposals for changes to moped and motorcycle licensing

One of MCIA’s recommendations includes lowering the age limit for L-category vehicles, and to also create a lower speed category, L1-CA, for the electric light moped, a vehicle that adheres to a maximum continuous power of 1kW, a maximum peak power of 1.5kW, and a speed limited to 21.75mph/35kph. 

This extra category has been proposed to target those with lower incomes, and younger people aged 14 and over, encouraging them to learn about road safety at an earlier age (the current legal age is 16),  while being restricted to lower speeds, aligning with the age limit of e-bikes. 

The License to Net Zero campaign has also suggested reducing the access age of A2 PTWs (a medium power motorcycle with up to 35kW power) from 19 to 18. Currently, direct access to a full A Category license is allowed from aged 24, or if they have held an A2 license for at least 2 years. MCIA is suggesting lowering this direct access age to 21. 

Increasing calls for changes in UK regulations

MCIA published its latest manifesto in May 2024 to serve as a “blueprint for leveraging powered light vehicles (PLVs) to accelerate the journey towards net zero and modernise our transportation network”, which included initiatives to support its License to Net Zero campaign. With the UK recently welcoming a new government in July, MCIA’s CEO Tony Campbell has called for urgent consideration of their proposed changes.

Ireland’s implemented electric mobility regulations 

Meanwhile in Ireland, its government has recently published laws on e-scooters and mopeds. In contrast to MCIA’s License to Net Zero proposal, the age limit of these vehicles is set at 16 years old due to concerns about young riders and the safety of other road passengers. For motorcycles, like the current UK law, Ireland states that riders must be at least 24 or have held a category A2 license for 2 years to be permitted to ride any motorcycle. 

Motorcycle and moped age regulations: a comparison with other countries

With the UK’s MCIA proposal to reduce licensing ages, there is some correlation with several nations that have already enforced lower age limits, such as Spain, Portugal and Poland, where citizens must be aged 14 to use a moped. 

For accessing any motorcycle in the European Union, generally, riders need to have at least 2 years of experience with a category A2 license or be aged 24 for direct access. In other countries around the world where motorcycle usage is booming, such as Argentina and India, the minimum ages are 17 and 18 years old respectively.

Conclusion

Time will tell if the MCIA's proposals to improve access to motorcycles and mopeds will be implemented in the UK. With so much variation in licensing across the world, it remains to be seen what changes could be implemented to encourage more groups in the UK to switch to non-gasoline mopeds and motorcycles and help achieve its net zero target.