Non-EU Approved Electric Bike: What Are the Real Dangers?

## What 'EU Approved' Means for an Electric Bike

To be considered a **pedal-assisted electric bicycle (EPAC)** in the eyes of European and French law, an electric bike must meet three cumulative criteria defined by the **EN 15194** standard:

- **Nominal motor power ? 250W**

- **Assistance automatically cuts out at 25 km/h**

- **Pedalling required** to activate assistance (no throttle accelerator)

If any of these three criteria isn't met, the bike is **no longer an EPAC** in the eyes of the law. It becomes a **moped**, and all associated rules apply: registration, specific insurance, licence, approved helmet, etc.

However, most popular models sold by Chinese brands with European warehouses — Lankeleisi, RANDRIDE, COSWHEEL, DUKAWEY, GUNAI and others — display powers of **500W, 750W, 1000W, or even 2000W**, with maximum speeds of **40 to 60 km/h**. These bikes are legally sold as off-road leisure vehicles. That's where the problem lies: many buyers use them on public roads, often without understanding the real consequences.

---

## Danger No. 1: Fines and Criminal Penalties

This is often the first question asked. Here's what you actually risk in France in 2025:

| Offence | Fine |

|---|---|

| Exceeding power or speed limits (EPAC ? moped) | **€135** |

| Failure to register (moped) | **€135** |

| Riding without mandatory third-party insurance | **€500** |

| Non-approved technical modifications / derestriction | **up to €1,500** |

| Non-registration of motorcycle | **up to €7,500** |

| Sale or transfer of non-approved moped (private individual) | **6 months imprisonment + €7,500** |

| Sale or transfer of non-approved moped (business) | **2 years imprisonment + €30,000** |

| Deliberate derestriction (Article L317-1 of the Highway Code) | **up to €30,000 + 1 year imprisonment** |

In addition to fines, law enforcement can **confiscate the bike on the spot** and prohibit its use until brought into compliance.

These penalties aren't theoretical. Controls have intensified since 2024, particularly with the deployment of specially trained officers in major cities and speed awareness displays on cycle paths.

---

## Danger No. 2: Insurance That Doesn't Cover (or No Longer Does)

This is probably **the most underestimated danger**.

For an approved EPAC, the third-party liability included in your home insurance generally covers you if you cause an accident. For a non-approved bike used on public roads, the situation is radically different.

**Most insurers refuse to cover a non-approved electric bike.** If you ride a vehicle exceeding 250W or 25 km/h on public roads:

- Your home insurance **no longer** covers you

- You should theoretically have taken out **moped insurance** (mandatory once power exceeds 250W or speed exceeds 25 km/h)

- In case of accident, you're in a situation of **riding without insurance**

This means in concrete terms that if you injure or kill someone, the **Mandatory Insurance Guarantee Fund (FGAO)** will compensate the victim... but will then turn against you to **recover the full amount paid**. Hundreds of thousands of euros in serious cases.

And if you're injured in an accident caused by a third party? Your legal position is weakened by the illegality of your vehicle. Some contracts and some judges may consider your **inexcusable fault** or reduce your compensation.

---

## Danger No. 3: Real Physical Safety

Beyond the legal aspect, non-approved bikes present concrete safety risks, often ignored at purchase.

### Brakes Calibrated for... Less

A 35 kg bike travelling at 45 km/h has **kinetic energy approximately three times greater** than the same mass at 25 km/h. Yet braking systems (mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes) are approved to stop an EPAC at 25 km/h within a specific distance. At 45 km/h, the braking distance is mechanically longer — and the collision risk much higher.

### A Structure Tested for Different Stresses

European standards impose strict structural resistance tests on EPAC manufacturers. Non-approved bikes aren't subject to these controls. There's no guarantee that the frame, welds or fork were designed to absorb impacts at 45 km/h on public roads.

### The Battery: The Silent Risk

Lithium batteries in non-approved vehicles don't necessarily pass CEN or UL certification tests. A faulty charger, a cell damaged during impact... and that's a fire. French firefighters have recorded a significant increase in fires linked to batteries from cheap e-scooters and electric bikes since 2022.

---

## Danger No. 4: Prohibition from Cycle Paths

A practical point often overlooked: a vehicle reclassified as a moped **can no longer use cycle paths**. It must travel on the carriageway, like a scooter.

In town, this means you lose the main advantage of your bike — urban fluidity — whilst exposing yourself to motor traffic without the protections of a real motorised two-wheeler (full-face helmet, approved equipment, etc.).

---

## The Special Case of Chinese Brands with EU Warehouses

On our site, we regularly compare brands like **Lankeleisi, RANDRIDE, COSWHEEL, GUNAI, DUKAWEY** or **HIDOES**. These brands sell vehicles that may display '250W' on their specification sheet — but be careful to distinguish:

- **Nominal power** (continuous, real): often 500W or more

- **Power displayed for marketing or regulatory purposes**: sometimes 250W

Some models are sold in an 'EU' version with software restriction to 25 km/h. But this restriction can be easily removed, and there's no proof that the mechanical structure and brakes have been recertified for the restricted speed.

**If the seller doesn't provide you with an EN 15194 certificate of conformity and signed CE declaration of conformity**, your bike isn't approved — regardless of what's written on the product sheet.

> ?? **Our advice**: before buying a Chinese brand bike, systematically check whether the seller can provide EU conformity documents. The absence of these documents is a strong warning signal.

---

## What You Can Do Legally with a Non-Approved Bike

It's not all doom and gloom. A non-approved bike remains perfectly legal to use in these contexts:

- **On private land** (property, farm, private estate)

- **On dedicated leisure tracks** (enduro, bike park, marked terrain)

- **In approved competitions** on closed circuits

- **For transport** (in a vehicle, in a boot)

For certain sporting and off-road leisure uses, these vehicles are actually remarkable — that's precisely what they were designed for.

---

## Summary: What Changes According to Bike Type

| Criterion | Approved EPAC (?250W / 25 km/h) | Non-approved vehicle (>250W or >25 km/h) |

|---|---|---|

| Public road use | ? Permitted | ? Prohibited without registration |

| Registration | ? Not required | ? Mandatory |

| Third-party insurance | Recommended (often included in home insurance) | Mandatory (moped contract) |

| Cycle paths | ? Permitted | ? Prohibited |

| Helmet | Recommended (mandatory under 12) | ? Mandatory (motorcycle approved) |

| Licence | ? Not required | ? BSR or AM minimum |

| Criminal risk in accident without insurance | Low | Very high (recovery of compensation) |

---

## Our Final Recommendation

If you're looking for an electric bike for daily use on public roads, **favour an explicitly EU-approved model**, with EN 15194 certificate of conformity provided at purchase.

If you're attracted by the power and style of Chinese brands — and there are good reasons to be — **enquire precisely about the available EU version** and demand conformity documents before buying.

Our comparison tool allows you to filter models according to their **actual approval**, their **nominal power**, and **available documents**. It's the best way to make an informed choice without unpleasant surprises.

---

*This article is provided for informational purposes. For any legal question specific to your situation, consult a legal professional. Regulations may change; verify the texts in force at the time of your purchase.*