Amazon sells Chinese e-bike kits that enable illegal high-speed conversions
Amazon offers cheap Chinese conversion kits that let owners turn ordinary bicycles into e-bikes exceeding UK speed limits, prompting safety concerns.
Amazon’s marketplace includes Chinese-made conversion kits that allow cyclists to retrofit standard bikes with motors up to 2,000 watts, enabling speeds of up to 40 mph. A reporter purchased a 500-watt kit for just under £500 and had it installed, achieving speeds over 25 mph. Police data show an 83 percent increase in e-bike seizures, and authorities link the devices to a surge in muggings and a fatal crash that killed an 86-year-old woman.
MPs argue that removing the kits at the source is essential, and a private-member’s bill seeks to prohibit their sale. Amazon says it is removing the highlighted products and requires sellers to provide accredited testing certification.
Why it matters
Illegal high-speed e-bike kits raise safety risks and fuel crime, prompting calls for regulatory action.
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