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Thousands of unsafe e-bikes and e-scooters are being seized at UK ports

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Alex Bowden's picture

Alex Bowden

Alex has been editor of ebiketips since 2021, switching to a world with motors after seven years working on sister site road.cc, where he contributed news, reviews and the occasional feature. These days he combines his road riding with electric bike testing and a dash of ongoing cricket writing (his first book's due out in 2025).

6 comments

1 year 5 months ago

What all of this translates to is: 'Don't buy cheap Chinese crap'.  Especially not outside a brick & mortar store.  CE and national compliance markings mean less than nothing as the manufacturer just slaps these on.  Good luck with sueing Hebei Xiangcrap ltd back in China when things go pearshaped.  

1 year 5 months ago

Why, if Escooters aren't legal to use in a public place, are the able to be sold at all?  It just destroys any credible enforcement.  Still, given the last three prime ministers don't seem to give a stuff about obeying the law, sale of Escooters follows the standard set from the top.  

1 year 5 months ago

Only buy from a "reputable" retailer? The very fact that high street national chains are happy to sell e-scooters for illegal use, whilst hiding behind facile in-store disclaimers, says much about how reputable they are.

1 year 5 months ago

“Of course, people can keep themselves safe by only purchasing e-scooters from a reputable retailer, ensuring the vehicle comes with accompanying safety guidance and looking for the CE or UKCA mark.

Don't rely on those markings, the manufacturer 'self-certifies' that their product conforms to the standards.

1 year 5 months ago

Quote:

Many lacked a fuse, meaning they had no means of cutting out in the event of a fault in the supply lead.

surprise

1 year 5 months ago

I'm glad to see that there is still some enforcement going on the UK and the authorities are not just writing to a letter to the offenders and hoping that that does the trick.