There are a few things that I learnt doing this conversion which are worth sharing with anyone else thinking of making a bike road legal in the UK.
I apologise to all of you not in the UK as most of what follows will make no sense at all - just think yourselves lucky!
1. Start with a registered donor vehicle and make sure it is the correct body type and taxation class you are going to need.
For example the body type on the Honda MT50 is "moped" that means it is limited to a top speed of 30mph if registered before 08/08/2003.
2. Get the vehicle registered in your name before you try to change anything
3. Download the MSVA manual
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/366046/msva-manual.pdf
If all else fails and you need to go through an MSVA test then at least you know the rules, you will also find the various power limits - for example maximum power for Electric Moped is 4Kw.
4. Do not do any major frame modifications and try and keep as much of the original doner bikes, frame, wheels, forks, suspension as possible.
Then, if the DLVA do ask for an inspection they use a points system to work out if the vehicle is radically altered or not, and you should get away without an MSVA test. Once you are road legal you can always swap over to different components - forks, wheels, etc
5. It took me about 5 weeks to get the V5 changed, I had the bike nearly ready to use - just in case the DVLA demanded an inspection.
You can do this whilst the vehicle is on SORN. All the details you need to fill in are in section 7 of the V5 "changes to current vehicle"
change "type of fuel" to Electric
change "Cylinder capacity (cc)" to 0 - this one is most important do not put N/A or leave it blank or you will still have a gas engine!
Change "Engine number" to your new number - put an engine plate on your electric motor if it does not have one.
6. Send the V5 off to the DVLA with a covering letter. In it I stated:
"This vehicle has been converted to run on electric fuel, this is the only form of propulsion as there is no longer a petrol engine fitted to this vehicle. The original petrol engine has been removed and and electric motor fitted in its place". This is because the default assumption seems to be that it is a hybrid.
I also detailed what the motor power was (which I also have on the engine plate). You need to send them documentary proof of the purchase of the motor (receipt etc). I also included pictures of the motor installed in the frame.
7. DO NOT try and change the "Tax class" this is something that only the DVLA can do when you actually go to tax the vehicle. Having said that mine came back with the tax class already changed to ELECTRIC M/CYCLE
I got my V5 back in 5 weeks with no further communication from the DVLA at all. No inspection - nothing, just a V5 for an electric moped, which I think is a real result. The final hurdle is to get the MOT done, here again they have to enter the cubic capacity to 0 in their system. The guys that did my MOT had to do it as the first thing they did in the test as they could not enter it at the end of the test. Print this info sheet out
https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/how-to-test-an-electric-bike/ and give it to your MOT tester.
There, I think that is all the salient points, I searched a lot around the forum for this type if information and it was thin on the ground, so hopefully this will help anyone else trying to convert a bike in the UK.
- Spata