What are zero emission powered light vehicles (zePLVs)?
Electric motorbikes, mopeds and micro cars, also known as zero emission powered light vehicles (zePLVs), are a great alternative to petrol, diesel or electric cars.
They’re small, lightweight, energy efficient and completely electric. And they’re more powerful than ebikes with pedals.
Having a zePLV can be great for commuting or running errands. They work well in cities, as well as rural areas where public transport is limited, and are much cheaper to run compared to an average sized petrol, diesel or electric car.
Different types of zePLVs
There are different types of zePLVs that you can get, from electric mopeds to micro cars.
They’re split into seven groups, known as L-categories. These categories are defined by power output (the electric equivalent of horsepower, which is the power of an engine), number of wheels and maximum weight they can carry.
The guide below will help you find out which could work best for you.
Electric motorcycles (category L3e) are the most common type of zePLV. They’re split into three categories that are defined by power output:
A1 – low performance motorcycles or scooters up to 125cc and with 11kW of power output.
A2 – medium performance motorcycles or scooters with up to 35kW of power output.
A3 – high performance motorcycles above 35kW of power output.
If you’re riding an electric motorcycle, the law says you have to wear a helmet.
You can also fit these motorcycles with an approved sidecar if you want to carry a passenger.
These are usually powered cycles or electric mopeds (category L1e), and they’re split into two categories:
L1e-A powered cycles. These have two, three or four wheels, up to 1kW of power output and cycling pedals. These cycles have power assist, which makes it easier for you to pedal, that cuts off at 15.5mph (25km/h). It’s recommended that you wear a helmet when using L1e-A powered cycles. And just so you know, electric bikes of 250W or less aren’t zePLVs.
L1e-B powered two wheelers. These mopeds have up to 50cc, 4kW of power output and a top speed of 28mph (45km/h). You have to wear a helmet by law when riding one.
These three-wheeled mopeds (category L2e) are designed to carry cargo such as shopping or work equipment, and you can even use them to take your pet on trips.
They can carry a maximum weight of 270kg. Power output is limited to 4kW, and their maximum speed is 28mph (45km/h), which is good for cities.
You can also get a more powerful version (category L5e) that has the comfort of a small car but still lets you get through traffic quickly like a moped does. These can have an excess of 4kW of power output and top speeds that go over 56mph (90km/h). They can also have up to five seats and can carry up to 1,000kg.
These micro cars have four wheels and are great for city driving.
Lower powered versions (L6e) have top speeds of 28mph (45km/h), while higher powered versions (L7e) can travel up to 56mph (90km/h).
Electric micro cars can be surprisingly spacious inside.
While smaller models might only have one or two seats, bigger models can have up to four seats or two seats plus a cargo area. This is helpful if you’re travelling with someone or need to pick up shopping or carry luggage.
ZePLVs are much smaller and lighter than cars. They take up much less road space and are cheaper to run. You can also charge them with a three-pin plug, which is the one that you find around your home or workplace.
Yes. Unlike petrol or diesel motorbikes, mopeds, mircocars, cars and vans, zePLVs have zero tailpipe emissions.
They’re also more energy efficient than larger electric vehicles because they’re lighter.
You can see some charging cost comparisons in the table below.
We haven’t included the cost per mile as this can vary a lot depending on your driving speed. However, as a rough idea, a motorbike rider riding a low powered motorbike at lower speeds would save around two thirds of their petrol costs by switching to electric.¹
Cost of charging/fueling
Electric heavy quadricycle
In calculating these costs, we assumed that the electric motorbike has a 3.5kWh battery, the quadricycle a 9kWh battery and the electric car a 70kWh battery. We used electricity costs of 33.2p/kWh (accurate as of April 2023, energysavingtrust.org.uk/about-us/our-data). As of April 2023, in Great Britain, the average standard rate unit cost for gas is currently capped at 10.3p per kilowatt hour (kWh) and 33.2p per kWh for electricity. The exact unit rate you pay varies slightly depending on where you live, and it will always depend on how much energy you use.We also assumed a 12-litre petrol fuel tank for the petrol motorbike and 55-litre tank for the petrol car, with a petrol pump cost of 146p/l (accurate as of April 2023, Weekly road fuel prices – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). The scenario assumes 0 to 100% charging or refuelling. It’s unlikely batteries or tanks would be drained to zero, so the prices should be used for comparative purposes only.