Electric Bike Laws by Country: Global Speed, Wattage, and Throttle Rules

Most countries set the e-bike motor limit at 250W and a top assisted speed of 15.5mph (25km/h), requiring pedal assist only. The exception is the USA, where laws are more relaxed and throttle use is widely permitted. Registration and licences are rarely needed worldwide, but throttle legality is where most countries differ.

If you’re unsure whether your electric bike meets UK road legality standards, you can check your e-bike’s legal status using our compliance tool in just a few clicks.

Global E-Bike Law Comparison Table (At a Glance)

Detailed Electric Bike Laws by Country

What is a Walk Throttle?

A walk throttle is a low-speed throttle designed to help you push the bike while walking beside it. It activates the motor just enough to assist with moving the bike forward, which can be especially useful on hills or when carrying a load. They’re actually pretty handy, but not that common.

What About a Normal Throttle?

A standard throttle works more like what you’d find on a motorbike. You either twist the handlebar or press a thumb lever, and the bike moves without any need to pedal. Throttles can be very useful, especially when starting from a standstill or at junctions, as they help you get up to speed quickly.

However, they’re often a topic of debate. Because they make the bike behave more like a motor vehicle, they’re restricted or banned in many countries. That said, they can be extremely helpful for riders with mobility issues. Unfortunately, as shown in the table above, throttles are not legal in a lot of regions unless they meet strict conditions.

How E-Bike Laws Differ Around the World

As you can see, the laws across most countries are fairly similar; it’s not just the UK that’s lagging behind. Very few regions allow full-throttle electric bikes without restrictions. The United States stands out as having some of the most relaxed e-bike laws, and in many ways, appears to be ahead of the curve in embracing electric bikes as a mainstream mode of transport. Their approach suggests a faster and more open adoption of this growing technology, while other countries remain cautious or slow to adapt.

Which Countries Are More E-Bike Friendly?

Most countries set the e-bike motor limit at 250W and top speed at 15.5mph (25km/h), requiring pedal assist only. The exception is the USA, where laws are more relaxed and throttles are widely permitted. Registration and licences are rarely needed worldwide, but throttle use is where the laws usually differ, I wish the UK laws were like this.

If you just want to know what the UK rules are, you can use the tool we created to check your setup or check out our UK ebike law page