How Tariffs Are Impacting the Personal Electric Vehicle Market in 2025

There’s an enormous craze in personal electric vehicles (PEV) at the moment — think Onewheel, electric skateboard, electric unicycle, e-scooter, and e-bike. From commuting to weekend getaways to just riding around town, these electric rides are your ticket to everywhere.

But here’s the catch: as of 2025, international tariffs are rippling throughout the PEV market. Higher prices, changing supply chains, and product delays are all possibilities. If you ride—or want to start—it’s worth understanding what’s happening behind the scenes.

What Are Tariffs and Why Are They Affecting Personal Electric Vehicles?

Let’s keep it simple: tariffs are taxes placed on imported goods. Countries often raise tariffs on imports to protect their own industries or respond to foreign trade practices. In 2025, several international tariff changes directly hit the electric rideable market.

Here’s how that plays out:

• Many PEVs and their parts—motors, batteries, controllers (like VESC), and frames—are manufactured or assembled overseas (primarily in China).
  
  

• Recent tariff changes, especially between the U.S. and China, have raised duties on a broad list of electric transportation products, pushing up the prices for companies and consumers alike.

Quick Timeline Recap:

• 2018–2022: Initial U.S.–China trade tensions led to various rounds of tariffs on electronics and machinery.
  
  

• 2023–2024: Temporary tariff exclusions were granted for some EV components.
  
  

• 2025: Those exclusions expired, and new tariffs took effect, including:
  
  

• 25% tariff on electric motors under 750W.
  
  

• 15%–25% tariffs on lithium-ion battery packs and controllers.
  
  

• Additional taxes on assembled electric mobility products (e.g., e-bikes and scooters).

How These Tariffs Impact PEV Prices in 2025

If you’ve been shopping around, you’ve probably noticed that prices have gone up. That’s not just inflation—it’s tariff ripple effects.

1. Electric Skateboards and Onewheel Alternatives

These niche yet passionate markets are sensitive to pricing changes. For example:

• Popular boards using VESC (Vedder Electronic Speed Controller) tech have seen controller prices rise by 15–20%.
  
  

• Brands that rely on imported battery packs are now charging more or offering limited inventory due to sourcing delays.

2. E-Bikes and E-Scooters

The broader micromobility category has been hit even harder.

• E-bikes under 750W (common for commuters) now carry 25% more cost in many cases due to motor and battery tariffs.
  
  

• E-scooter parts, particularly controllers and chargers, have faced cost increases that brands are reluctantly passing on to customers.

3. Electric Unicycles (EUCs)

EUCs, with their complex motor systems and advanced battery packs, are especially tariff-sensitive. Many manufacturers use components from Asia and are now exploring higher MSRP or reduced features to stay competitive.

Who's Feeling It: Riders, Retailers, and Repair Shops

Riders

The end user—you—feels the hit directly in your wallet. A board or e-bike that cost $1,800 last year may now be closer to $2,100 with no change in features.

Retailers

Shops like One Stop Board Shop face tough decisions: absorb the cost or pass it on. In many cases, retailers try to offer bundle deals, free maintenance, or educational resources to keep value high despite rising costs.

Repair and DIY Communities

If you're into DIY builds or upgrades, this gets even more frustrating:

• Battery packs, VESCs, and motor kits are up in cost and harder to find.
  
  

• DIY builders must sometimes wait longer or pay more for the same gear they used to grab off the shelf.

How Manufacturers Are Responding

1. Diversifying Production

Some PEV brands are shifting assembly lines to countries like Vietnam, Mexico, or Malaysia to avoid direct tariffs on Chinese goods. This may help in the long term, but it's slow and expensive.

2. Designing Around Tariffs

Manufacturers are modifying product specifications to avoid certain classifications. For instance:

• Offering modular designs that allow a product to be shipped in parts (which are taxed less).
  
  

• Reducing motor wattage slightly to fall into a lower tariff bracket.

3. Going Domestic

There’s also a small movement to manufacture PEVs in the U.S., but this is limited by cost and access to components. Still, we may see more “assembled in the USA” products in the next few years.

Global PEV Trade Outlook in 2025

The big picture? It’s a mixed bag.

• China remains the dominant player in battery tech and electric motors.
  
  

• U.S.–China trade tensions are unlikely to ease quickly, meaning current tariffs might stick around through 2026 or beyond.
  
  

• The EU has started proposing its own tariffs on Chinese e-bikes and scooters to protect European brands, further complicating global supply chains.
  
  

As one recent report from Bloomberg noted, “The micromobility market is entering a turbulent pricing phase, with inflation and international policy pushing more manufacturers to re-think their sourcing and logistics.”

What Can You Do as a Rider in 2025?

1. Buy Smart

Buy from reputable retailers like One Stop Board Shop that work closely with suppliers to minimize price fluctuations and offer real value.

2. Consider Upgrade Kits

Rather than buying brand-new, some riders are choosing upgrade kits or component replacements (e.g., new VESC controllers or battery upgrades). It’s often more cost-effective and helps avoid full-tariffed new builds.

3. Look for Local Deals

Retailers offering U.S.-based inventory may already have stock purchased pre-tariff. That means you can still snag a deal before prices fully adjust across the board.

Pro tip: At One Stop Board Shop, we’ve got a rotating selection of closeout deals on existing inventory—including Onewheel accessories, e-scooter parts, and electric skateboard upgrades. These are items brought in before the 2025 tariff increases, so you're getting premium gear at pre-hike pricing while supplies last.

4. Stay Educated

The PEV space is evolving fast. From new product launches to tariff news, staying in the loop helps you make smarter decisions. (Pro tip: bookmark the One Stop Board Shop blog).

Are There Any Benefits from the Tariffs?

Oddly enough—yes, a few:

• Encouragement for domestic innovation: Companies in the U.S. and Europe are investing more in in-house battery production, motor R&D, and local assembly.
  
  

• Sustainability efforts: Shorter supply chains mean lower emissions from shipping and packaging.
  
  

• Increased community support: As global costs rise, PEV communities are banding together, sharing resources, and supporting local repair shops.

What to Watch in the Coming Year

🔋 Battery Trends

Keep an eye on solid-state battery development—less reliant on the lithium-ion supply chains currently hit with tariffs.

U.S Domestic Legislation

U.S. lawmakers may introduce clean transport tax credits or incentives to soften the cost burden on consumers and retailers.

🔧 Right to Repair Movement

As prices rise, expect growing demand for open-source, repair-friendly designs that give more control to riders and tinkerers.

Final Thoughts: Ride the Change

Tariffs are changing the way personal electric vehicles are bought, built, and sold—but they’re not stopping the movement. Whether you ride a Onewheel, carve the streets on an electric skateboard, or cruise to work on an e-bike, the PEV lifestyle is here to stay.

Yes, prices may rise. Yes, product options may shift. But smart riders—and smart businesses—are already adapting.

Ready to Roll? Check Out What’s in Stock

Want gear that’s already in the U.S., built to last, and backed by real humans who ride? Visit One Stop Board Shop for the latest Onewheel accessories, PEV parts, upgrades, and educational content.

We’ve got your back—no matter where the tariffs land.

References

1. U.S. International Trade Commission – Harmonized Tariff Schedule (2025 updates)
   https://www.usitc.gov/harmonized_tariff_information

2. Bloomberg – "E-Bike and Micromobility Makers Face Rising Costs as Tariff Exemptions End" (2025)
   https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-12/e-bike-makers-hit-by-renewed-tariffs

3. Reuters – "U.S.–China Trade Tensions: What’s Next for EV Parts?" (Late 2024)
   https://www.reuters.com/business/us-china-trade-electric-vehicles-2024-11-30/

4. BikeEU – “EU Investigates Chinese E-Bike Imports Amid Dumping Concerns” (2025)
   https://www.bike-eu.com/industry-updates/europe-tariffs-china-ebike-imports

5. The Verge – "Why Electric Skateboard Prices Keep Rising in 2025"
   https://www.theverge.com/2025/02/05/electric-skateboard-price-increases

6. Electrek – “DIY e-bike community hit hard by battery and controller import tariffs”
   https://electrek.co/2025/03/14/e-bike-diy-parts-tariffs/

7. U.S. Department of Energy – Solid-State Battery Research and Supply Chain Resilience
   https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/solid-state-battery-initiative

8. Right to Repair Advocacy by iFixit – PEV Market Trends
   https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair/PEVs
   
   

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