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How to charge an electric motorbike

An electric motorbike could be a very cost effective option for your commute. Here we look at where to charge your electric bike, how much it'll cost, how often you need to do it and more. All in one place.

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Words by: Auto Trader

Published on 15 June 2021 | 0 min read

Where to charge an electric motorbike
To charge a bike you will need access to power from the grid, you can access power from the grid by attaching your bike to a standard 3 pin socket, with a cable supplied with the bike - just like how you charge anything else electric.
The amazing thing which most people don’t know about electric bikes and scooters is that you can charge them via a standard UK 3 point plug, just like your mobile phone or other appliances in your house. This means they are very easy to charge and home, at work and out and about. Lots of manufacturers have developed batteries which you can remove too, so if you wanted to, you could take it into your favourite coffee shop and charge it there. Some bike manufacturers have managed to implement innovative charging options to their models, for example the scooter manufacturer Silence have created a battery which you can remove from the scooter and charge at home in a normal plug socket. We expect more technology like this to come in the future.
Electric charge points
In the UK, there are three types of charge point: slow, fast and rapid. The “speed” refers to how much electricity is transferred to the battery over a given period (the power output). Power is measured in kilowatts (kW).
Different companies have contributed to the electric charging ecosystem over time, which means there are different charging points and connecting sockets available – a bit like how there are different phone chargers, and they, unfortunately, aren’t all cross-compatible.
How long does it take to charge an electric motorbike?
This depends on the size of the bike’s battery, the speed of the charge point, and the amount of charge you need. Charging a bike can take anything between 30 minutes and 12 hours. You may need an adapter to use some chargers.
  • 3.7kW chargers charge at approximately 15 miles of range in an hour
  • 7kW fast chargers, charge at around 30 miles of range in an hour
  • Rapid chargers can get you an 80% charge in 20 minutes – but this will depend on the bike and the charging point.
Here are some examples of charge times for different bikes/scooters, when charged via a standard UK 3 point plug:
  • BMW C Evolution - 4 hours to charge
  • Harley-Davidson Livewire - 8 hours to charge
  • Lexmoto Cypher - 6 hours to charge
  • Silence S02 LS - 3-4 hours to charge
  • Sunra Miku Super - 4 hour charge
  • Silence S01 - 6-8 hours to charge
  • Sunra Robo - 4 hours to charge
  • Super Soco CUX - 4 hours to charge
  • Super Soco TC Max - 3-4 hours to charge
  • Zero S - 9 hours to charge
How often do electric motorbikes need charging?
This is very hard to say as it depends on your bikes’ battery and range. An electric motorbikes’ range is how far it can travel on a charge. Charge times may vary by charging points.
How much does it cost to charge an electric motorbike?
This depends on where you’re charging your bike and how much charge it needs. Charging a scooter or motorbike is often cheaper than charging a car due to the size of the vehicle. The manufacturers of Thelmoco scooters claim a full charge can cost as little as 30p.
Charging your motorbike at home
If you are charging at home you may be able to get a special tariff for charging your bike from your electricity provider, so shop around. If you’re climate-conscious, you could consider using sustainable energy providers like Octopus or Bulb.
As electric bikes are charged with a standard 3 pin socket, with a cable supplied with the bike - just like how you charge anything else electric.
Charging your motorbike at work
  • Some employers offer free access to charging points they’ve installed, others charge you a tariff to encourage fair usage. It would be best to raise this with your employer
  • If you are using the bike for work purposes, your employer should cover the costs of charging as this is a business expense
  • If you want to install a charge point at your place of work, you may be able to access vouchers, which provide support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of charging points, <a href=
Charging your motorbike in public
  • Some public charging points or service stations are free, and prices can vary for the paid ones
  • Rapid charging points are often the most expensive of the lot, these usually cost around £6.50 for a 30 minute / 100-mile charge
  • If you would like to install a charging point at home, you could get grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points, read more about this on <a href=
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