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.

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 2025)! 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 2023!

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.

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

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

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!

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

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

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 phone, 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.

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

• 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

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.

• Affordable
• Excellent storage space for an electric bike

• 50mph top speed limits the performance outside of town

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.

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

   

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

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 2023. 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.

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

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

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.

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

• Not the cheapest option
• Lack of storage space

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 2023 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.

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

• Most expensive model here

So there you have it! Here are my electric 125cc equivalent top picks, ready to take 2023 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!