Top 8 Electric Scooters and Mopeds 2023 | 125 equivalent

Electric bikes have been among us for a while now and with the Government continuing its pledge to reduce emissions, they seem like the inevitable future of transport here in the UK. One area of debate has been whether these electric alternatives are quite up to the job of replacing our beloved combustion motors just yet.

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Without a doubt, one area in which these new electric machines are making great strides is the 125cc equivalent category. These bikes will excel as an urban run-around and are now able to compete with traditional mopeds and scooters around town, both in the performance and price departments. The fact they can be ridden from age 17 with a CBT licence means they are extremely accessible too.

Energy costs may be climbing here in the UK but it is still significantly cheaper to run one of these electric scooters than a petrol counterpart. It isn't just the fuelling costs that are cheaper either, servicing is easier, running costs are minimal and they are tax exempt (until )! If you are looking for a short-range commuter, there are definitely savings to be had here.

In this blog, we are going to look at some of the absolute best L3e (125cc equivalent) mopeds and scooters currently available in !

8. Lexmoto LX06

While most electric mopeds and scooters are going for a more modernist approach in their visual design, the LX06 embraces a vintage scooter aesthetic that makes it stand out in this category. If you're looking for a modern electric option that still looks like a traditional scooter, this could be the one!

Aside from the clean traditional design, one of the other major selling points here is the price point. At £2,699, this is the most budget-friendly model on the list and one of the cheapest ways to own an electric vehicle.

The LX06 weighs just 90kg in running order, which is light as a feather and lends itself well to the 4kw motor's instant power delivery. It isn't quite as fast as some of the other L3e scooters here with a top speed of 47mph, however it is still respectable for the category. The dual 60v 32ah lithium batteries provide a range of around 60 miles and can charge in 5-6 hours.

As usual here, this scooter is squarely aimed as a cost-effective urban commuter and it will do its job very well for the money.

Pros:

• Cheapest scooter on the list
• Lovely 60's inspired design

Cons:

• Not the fastest top speed
• May struggle out of town

7. Yadea G5S

The Yadea G5S is imported into the UK by Lexmoto and with a £2,980 starting price, is another strong, budget-friendly electric option.

The design is simple and minimalistic, yet still stylish with 4 distinct colourways, and its compact size results in an 81kg running weight! That is absolutely tiny in comparison to its petrol counterparts and it means that the 4.1Kw electric motor can reach 50mph top speeds fairly swiftly.

The G5S's two 72v 20ah batteries can be charged from your mains plug to full in around 6-8 hours and will provide a 70-mile range. Those are some decent stats and mean the Yadea can easily handle your trips to work or college and is perfect for zipping through town traffic.

Even at such a low price point, the Yadea manages to squeeze in a few extra features like keyless ignition, eco ride mode, wheel lock, and built in alarm. Aside from that, it's fairly basic but if you are looking for a cheap stylish town commuter, this could be worth a look!

Pros:

• Extremely economical
• Light as a feather
• Batteries can be charged off the bike simultaneously

Cons:

• Taller riders may feel cramped
• Could struggle outside of urban areas

6. Keeway Blueshark 80

The Blueshark 80 from Keeway, is a trendy electric scooter with a futuristic design and a host of interesting tech features.

Weighing in at 112kg with its dual 48v 30ah batteries installed ready to go, the 5kw electric motor can accelerate swiftly to a 50mph top speed and offers agile and nimble handling. The Blueshark can be fully charged in just 4 hours and according to Keeway, the dual batteries will give around a 60 mile range.

For the tech features, there is a huge 10" full colour HD display with a smart operating system that includes GPS and 4G navigation support. It will also provide status reports from the scooter's 74 sensors, including battery life, speed, acceleration, lighting conditions, temperature etc. The handy Blueshark app can synchronise all the information and readouts in real time with your , so you can easily keep track of your scooter's status and battery life wherever you are.

On top of that, the Blueshark 80 has a built in camera which can record as you ride, a fingerprint scanner for added security and a built in alarm. There are 5 different ride modes, including a reverse assist mode and a 'Turbo' mode if you don't care about battery life and just need to get to your destination in good time.

The Keeway Blueshark 80 starts at £3,699 and offers great 125cc equivalent performance, as well as plenty of quality of life features, built in security and some lovely modern styling. All in all, a nice little package for the money.

Pros:

• Fast charge up on the dual batteries
• Numerous built-in security features
• Excellent 10" HD display

Cons:

• Not the cheapest here (although still good value for the category!)
• As usual, this is an urban commuter, so trips over 60 miles are off the cards

5. SUNRA ROBO-S

The Robo-S is another electric scooter with a clean futuristic visual design and some nifty features up its sleeve.

You can see from the design there is a cool looking chunky floor area and that is because the dual 72v 20ah batteries are actually housed there! This is a great idea and something I'd like to see more electric bikes doing, as it opens up space for a 24L storage area under the seat!

The batteries themselves can be charged in 4 hours and will offer around a 61 mile range. The 3kw electric motor has a maximum speed of 50mph, which isn't the fastest here but it will zip to 40mph in a hurry and will traverse those urban areas very efficiently.

In terms of tech features, we have a keyless ignition system with a fingerprint reader, smart connectivity and app integration, as well as a built in alarm. There's also the usual ride modes with an eco and sport mode to help you squeeze out some extra performance or economy.

The Sunra Robo-S starts at £3,299, which makes this another affordable option with some great economy. If you want to know more about the Robo-S, why not check out Brett's test ride review here.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Excellent storage space for an electric bike

Cons:

• 50mph top speed limits the performance outside of town

4. Super Soco CPX

The CPX from Super Soco is another great 125 equivalent scooter with a modern sporty design and an accessible price tag.

The CPX is a little bit more substantial than some of the others here, leading to a slightly heavier weight (143kg for the dual battery version). That means the proportions are a little more spacious and it generally has a bit more road presence, which can be important in the crowded urban areas this scooter is most at home in.

Super Soco are using a 60v 45Ah battery with an estimated range of 44 miles and a 3-4 hour charge time. The initial cost of the single battery version starts at £3,049 which is highly competitive for an electric vehicle but if you want to venture further afield, you will likely want to go for the dual battery option. This brings the price up to £4,299 but extends the range to 87 miles which is one of the best on offer here. Depending on your budget and riding needs, it could either be economical or an outright bargain.

Powering the CPX is Super Soco's patented 4kw electric motor and the scooter can reach speeds of around 56mph. As with most of the models on the list, it will work best as a nippy urban runaround with excellent running costs. If you want the full scoop on the Super Soco CPX you could check out Brett's review.

Pros:

• Decent proportions
• Large windscreen comes as standard
• Accessible price point

   

Cons:

• Not the fastest on the list
• The budget single-battery version may not have enough range for everyone

3. Horwin EK3

The EK3 is a trendy looking scooter with a classic style, enhanced by some futuristic curves and detailing. There are a variety of sleek colour ways available, as well as a limited edition pistachio green version for . In my opinion, all of them look great!

The EK3 uses a 72v 40Ah Lithium -Ion battery that can charge to full in 4 hours and provide a range of around 60 miles. It definitely excels as a town commuter but there is the option to have a second battery if you wanted to extend your journey a bit.

The Central motor can do top speeds of around 60mph and thanks to its electric nature, provides peak torque almost instantaneously. Again, this does lend itself to town commuting as keeping up with traffic is not a problem and filtering through smaller gaps is easy thanks to its compact size. With that said, taller riders may be pushed for leg room so make sure you have a sit on one and see how it feels.

In terms of features, we have a nice LCD display that clearly shows battery life and trip meters and there is an interesting finger swipe keyless ignition system. The EK3 uses a combined braking system instead of ABS (pretty standard in this category) but when I took one for a spin last year, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the stopping power felt. The fact that it only weighs 111kg (including the battery) helps and makes it feel agile and fun to ride.

The starting price on one of these brand new is £4,099, and if you prefer a more sporty look, you could also check out Horwin's SK3. It has a similar spec to this model but a visual design more in line with mainstream options like the PCX or NMAX.

Pros:

• Compact and light makes it great for filtering and general urban commutes
• Fun neo-retro design

Cons:

• Taller riders may struggle
• Centre stand only
• Longer range commutes are not on the cards

2. NIU MQi GT EVO

The MQi GT EVO is NIU's latest and most powerful electric scooter to date with true 125 equivalent performance and some smart tech features.

The MQi has sharp minimalist styling that is pleasing to the eye, with a large halo light taking centre stage up front. The overall proportions have been increased compared to NIU's other offerings, with a 30% larger seat designed to cater for both rider and pillion comfortably. Despite this, the MQi GT EVO still weighs in at under 130kg with the batteries installed, so it is relatively lightweight and easy to manoeuvre compared to its petrol brethren.

The EVO uses NIU's new V Motor with 6.5kW of continuous power, providing swift acceleration and reaching top speeds of around 60mph in sport mode. There is the option of using eco mode to extend the battery life but it will limit you to around 30mph. Like me, you will likely spend most of your time in sport mode but it is still a nice option to have in congested areas.

The dual lithium-ion batteries can be fully charged in 5 hours and will cover a range of around 46 miles with liberal use of sport mode. The customisable LED dashboard will keep track of your battery status along with your speed and trip meters and also has smart connectivity. With the NIU app, you can get quick status checks, locate your scooter or even receive alerts for any unauthorised movement. Other tech features include keyless ignition, cruise control and a built in alarm.

The NIU MQi GT EVO starts from £4,799 so it is one of the more expensive options on the list but as we have already discussed, the lower running costs will make sure this is still an economical choice.

Pros:

• Spacious proportions
• Decent performance
• Some handy tech features and built in security

Cons:

• Not the cheapest option
• Lack of storage space

1. Silence S01 Connected

The Silence S01 Connected is the most premium model on the list, with a hefty starting price of £6,265 but in return, it offers class leading performance and economy, with an all round level of polish that takes it right to the top of the list.

The S01 has a futuristic visual design that looks awesome in all its colourways. We were able to take the green version out for a spin last year and were impressed by how good it looked, how well put together it was, and how comfy its spacious proportions were. The large seat is for more than just comfort though, as it provides a decent under-seat storage space that can easily fit a full-size helmet inside.

When it comes to performance, the S01 is hard to beat. The 5.6kWh battery has an 85 mile range, which is going to be ample for most commuting demands and can be charged to full in 6-8 hours. When it is time to remove the battery, the Silence has a super convenient mechanism to slide it out from the side and wheel it away with ease.
The 7kW motor has a nice 62mph top speed but where it really shines is in the rapid acceleration.

The version I'm featuring here is the 'Connected', which as the name suggests comes with smart connectivity and the silence connected app, as well as generally strong all round performance. If you wanted to save a bit of money, you could go for the 'Urban' edition which shaves the price down to £4,975 but loses 20 miles from its range and reduces the top speed to 52mph. Still a solid choice.

On the other hand, if you really want the crème de la crème, Silence have released a limited edition S01+ for as well. The S01+ features a 'Push to Pass' mode with a 68mph top speed, making it one of the fastest 125 equivalent electric scooters on the road. It also adds adjustable suspension and wave brakes for a really premium package that will set you back £7,475.

Pros:

• Excellent performance for the class
• Huge 85 mile battery range
• Decent storage space
• 3 variations to choose from depending on your budget and needs

Cons:

• Most expensive model here

The Last Stop!

So there you have it! Here are my electric 125cc equivalent top picks, ready to take by storm...

Which one was your favourite? Make sure to me know in the comment section below.

Last but not least, if you have your very own electric moped or scooter you need to insure - make sure to get an electric motorcycle and moped insurance quote direct with Lexham!

 

While electric motorcycles struggle to get out of the starting blocks, their scooter siblings are proving much more popular. In over 90% of newly registered battery-powered bikes made less than 15bhp, with most of the top sellers being step-thru scooters and mopeds.

It&#;s easy to see why. For the everyday urban commute an electric powertrain offers a number of advantages. There&#;s instant torque to get away from the lights, with no lag or power being sapped from a CVT transmission. There&#;s no fuel wasted while idling, and no engine or exhaust trying to toast your buns come the middle of summer. The usual electric downsides don&#;t matter as much either. An enormous range isn&#;t so essential &#; not when the whole of central London is just 15 miles across &#; so batteries can be smaller, lighter, cheaper and easier to package. The lack of clutch and gears doesn&#;t feel so alien if you&#;re already used to a twist-and-go petrol scooter. And providing you can charge at home, the &#;fuel&#; cost of a leccy scoot is a fraction of even the most frugal four-stroke.

Electric can dovetail neatly with the daily routine too: charge overnight, wake up to a full tank every morning, ride to work and back, then plug in once home and repeat tomorrow. No time lost visiting petrol stations and no need to faff with public chargers. Don&#;t have a power socket where you park? Removable batteries let you leave the rest of the bike outside and just bring the bit that needs charging indoors.

The government will even help you buy one. Provided it costs less than £10,000 (as almost all electric scooters do) the Plug-In Motorcycle Grant pays up to £500, or £150 for electric mopeds. (FYI, all prices on this page are quoted with the PiMG grant already taken off.) With offerings from both brand-new electric upstarts as well as long-established motorcycle firms, plus a range of models designed to fit every licence, experience and budget, it can be hard to know where to start. So, here&#;s our shortlist featuring 10 of the very best battery-powered scooters, commuters and mopeds you can buy in .

 

Super Soco CPx &#; £

Meet the best-selling electric scooter in the UK. Super Soco&#;s CPx was launched in late to a nation of nervous commuters, torn between being encouraged to return to the office but desperate to avoid public transport. In its first full year on sale, the CPx sold in such astonishing volumes it became one of the top 10 biggest-selling motorcycles of .

The CPx recipe is pretty straightforward. A 6bhp motor sits inside the rear wheel, a huge weather-beating windscreen lives up front, and your choice of one or two 2.7kWh removable batteries sit under the seat (which, awkwardly, absorb any storage space). Stay under 30mph and it can last up to 80 miles with two batteries, or around half as far if you spend all your time at its 56mph top speed.

A single-battery CPx usually costs £, with the dual-battery version £. However, at time of writing (March ) Super Soco have dropped the dual-battery version to just £. Read our review of the Super Soco CPx here.

• Power: 6bhp (maximum) / 5bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 56mph (claimed)

• Weight: 125kg (single battery) / 143kg (dual battery)

• Battery: 2.7kWh (single battery) / 5.4kWh (dual battery)

• Licence: A1

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Yadea G5S &#; £

Not heard of Yadea? In their annual sales topped 14 million bikes, making them the planet&#;s biggest electric two-wheeler brand. For a bit of context, that year Honda sold 17 million bikes &#; so, yes, they&#;re a serious player. The G5S is their biggest-selling model in the UK, and it&#;s easy to see why when it&#;s priced at less than £. It uses a 5bhp mid-mounted motor with a belt final drive, claims a 50mph top speed, and packs a pair of removable batteries holding nearly 3kWh between them. Yadea UK claim that&#;s enough for a range of 72 miles &#; though without having tested it, our chins feel rather itchy. We&#;d budget on more like 40-50 miles of commuting. Yadea also claim a featherweight 81kg, which we&#;ll presume is without the batteries fitted. Otherwise it features a steel tube frame, 7-inch LCD dash, simple suspension and linked disc brakes. Yadea have more than 30 dealers up and down the UK, with distribution via Exeter-based importers Lexmoto.

• Power: 5bhp (maximum) / 4bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 50mph (claimed)

• Weight: 81kg (claimed, without batteries)

• Battery: 2.88kWh

• Licence: A1

 

 

Horwin EK3 &#; £

The Horwin EK3&#;s soft, curvy, slightly retro styling disguises some modern touches, including LED lights, keyless ignition, an LCD dash, cruise control, plus a USB charging port by your right knee. Its air-cooled motor is mid-mounted, driving the rear wheel via a chain. It can put out up to 8bhp, enough to silently sneak up to nearly 60mph. There&#;s a removable battery under the seat (though quite a big one, weighing around 17kg), holding enough energy to last 40 to 50 miles of steady urban trundling (or 20-25 miles of top-speed riding). When it&#;s flat, you&#;ll need around four hours to fully refill the battery using an offboard charger plugged into a standard household socket. Or, if you want, you can specify a twin-battery version of the EK3, doubling range, for an additional £. Right now (March ) importers Artisan Scooters are sweetening the deal with a free leg cover worth £129.

• Power: 8bhp (maximum) / 5bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 59mph (claimed)

• Weight: 109kg (single battery) / 126kg (dual battery)

• Battery: 2.6kWh (single battery) / 5.2kWh (dual battery)

• Licence: A1

 

 

Niu MQi GT Evo &#; £

The fastest model in the range of Chinese firm Niu (as in &#;New&#;) is this spilled tin of alphabet spaghetti: the MQi GT Evo. The 9bhp motor mounted in its rear wheel is quick enough to thrust the scoot on to 60mph (and perhaps even a bit beyond). Energy is stored in a pair of removable 1.87kWh batteries &#; smaller than many rivals, but also considerably lighter at just 11kg each. That&#;s worth bearing in mind if you plan on regularly removing the batteries to charge them indoors. A full recharge takes around 5 hours, and with both packs brimmed Niu claim a range of between 46 and 70 miles. The MQi GT Evo is normally priced at £, but right now (March ) Niu have dropped it to just £. Read our review of the Niu MQi GT Evo here.

• Power: 9bhp (maximum) / 7bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 60mph (claimed)

• Weight: 128kg

• Battery: 3.7kWh

• Licence: A1

 

 

Silence S01 &#; £

The most expensive scooter on our list so far, and (not coincidentally) the first that isn&#;t built in China. Instead the S01 is made near Barcelona in Spain, where Silence have been steadily growing their electric scooter business since . Its party piece is a trolley-style removable battery, which slides out sideways while sprouting a pair of wheels and a telescopic handle. This means you can wheel it round like a suitcase, rather than having to lift it out and lug it indoors. Good thing, given it weighs over 40kg. In fairness the battery does store an impressive 5.6kWh, enough to last 70-ish miles of commuting, or around 35 miles of faster riding. The unit also contains the charger, though its modest power means a full recharge takes 8 hours. The S01 is one of the faster A1 electric scooters thanks to a 12bhp hub-mounted motor, which drives with impressive force from a standing start and goes on to a claimed 62mph top speed. Silence also offer an S01+ model with a shade more performance and a higher chassis spec, though it&#;s £.

• Power: 12bhp (maximum) / 9bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 62mph (claimed)

• Weight: 150kg (est)

• Battery: 5.6kWh

• Licence: A1

 

 

Segway E300SE &#; £

Yes, the same Segway you&#;re thinking of &#; but no, this isn&#;t some daft self-balancing skateboard thing bought by Silicon Valley tech hippies. The E300SE might look fairly anonymous on the outside, but on specification and features this is one of the most complete offerings the electric scooter class has seen. For starters its 13bhp hub motor is remarkably potent, acceleration is startling, and that 65mph top speed claim is entirely accurate. The E300SE comes with safety aids lacking from most other A1-class electric scooters, including both ABS and traction control. Its pair of 2kWh removable batteries live beneath your feet, freeing up space under the seat for 34 litres of storage. WMTC-tested range is 53 miles, increasing to 60-70 if you stick to slow speeds in Eco mode, or falling to 30-40 miles if you ride faster. A full charge of both batteries takes around five hours. The Segway name might raise a chuckle, but given its performance, practicality and price their E300SE deserves to be taken very seriously.

• Power: 13bhp (maximum) / 10bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 65mph (claimed)

• Weight: 127kg (claimed)

• Battery: 4.0.kWh

• Licence: A1

 

 

Honda EM1 e: &#; £

The first electric two-wheeler from Honda to go on sale in Europe, the EM1 e: was launched last year as a battery-powered moped (50cc rather than 125cc) equivalent. That means a top speed of just 45kph (28mph), and a maximum power output from its hub-mounted motor of just 2bhp &#; yes, two. Fine if you&#;re 16 years old, or have a strictly inner-city commute, but not a lot to be getting on with beyond that. The upside is that because the motor can&#;t draw much power from the battery, the EM1 e: covers a claimed 25 miles from a fairly tiny 1.5kWh battery pack. So if energy efficiency and rock-bottom fuel costs are your thing, step this way. The downsides are that there&#;s no ABS, a full recharge takes six hours, and Honda are asking a frankly startling £. Ooof.

• Power: 2.3bhp (maximum) / 0.8bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 28mph (claimed)

• Weight: 95kg

• Battery: 1.5kWh

• Licence: AM

 

 

Yamaha NEO&#;s &#; £

Launched in , the NEO&#;s (don&#;t blame us for the greengrocer&#;s apostrophe &#; that&#;s how Yamaha spell it) is a moped-equivalent electric scooter. It comes with a single 1kWh battery claimed to be good for 23 miles. If you want to go further afield, you can add a second 8kg battery pack (an extra £), which extends range to 42 miles. The hub-mounted motor puts out 3bhp and, being an AM-licence machine, top speed is 27mph. If that sounds a bit heady there&#;s an &#;Eco&#; riding mode which cuts top speed to 22mph and reduces power to 2bhp in a bid to maximise range. With one battery fitted there&#;s also 27 litres of underseat storage, which might be just enough to stash an open-face lid. Prices start at under £, considerably undercutting Honda&#;s EM1 e: Read our review of the Yamaha NEO&#;s here.

• Power: 3.4bhp (maximum) / 3.1bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 27mph (claimed)

• Weight: 98kg (single battery) / 106kg (dual battery)

• Battery: 1kWh (single battery) / 2kWh (dual battery)

• Licence: AM

 

 

Piaggio 1 &#; £

Ironically, for a bike named simply &#;1&#;, Piaggio&#;s electric scooter comes in two versions. First there&#;s the standard moped-equivalent Piaggio 1, which has a 2bhp motor, a 1.4kWh battery and an AM-friendly 28mph top speed. There&#;s also the faster Piaggio 1 Active, which doubles power to 4bhp, ups battery capacity to 2kWh and raises top speed to 37mph. That puts the Active in a peculiar place: too fast to be legally classified as a moped; not really fast enough to keep up with other A1 scoots. With that in mind the regular &#;1&#; seems to make more sense to us, especially given its £ official price tag is currently cut to just £, or half the cost of its Honda rival. For that you get a claimed range of 27 miles, sporty styling, keyless ignition, colour LCD display and a fab-looking single-sided front end. Read our review of the Piaggio 1 Active here.

• Power: 1.8bhp (maximum) / 1.6bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 28mph (claimed)

• Weight: 85kg

• Battery: 1.4kWh

• Licence: AM

 

 

BMW CE 04 11kW &#; £12,850

Clearly an outlier given the rest of the electric commuter options, but worth including on this list to highlight the variety out there. As standard BMW&#;s CE 04 leccy maxi-scoot is an A2-class machine, making 42bhp. But it&#;s also available in a restricted version for A1 licences, with its peak power reduced to 31bhp and range reduced to a claimed 62 miles. Top speed remains 75mph, it just gets there a bit slower than the full-power version. Compared to other A1 electric scoots it&#;s in a completely different universe when it comes to weight, price and performance. But, hey, if you can afford to splash the cash and want to ride the most powerful, longest-range and most luxurious offering in the A1 electric scooter class, then you&#;ll be wanting to head to a BMW dealership and asking for a test ride on one of these. Read our review of the BMW CE 04 here.

• Power: 31bhp (maximum) / 15bhp (continuous)

• Top speed: 75mph (claimed)

• Weight: 231kg

• Battery: 8.9kWh (maximum) / 8.5kWh (nominal)

• Licence: A1

 

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