E-bikes and scooters have become the must-have transportation solution for an increasing number of people in the UK, from the very young to pensioners.

However, there is a distinct lack of regulation despite their popularity, numbers and road safety considerations.

Their popularity is also raising concerns about additional hazards from an unregulated and uncertified area of manufacture and sales, as well as the general public’s ignorance of the dangers.

Ring the bell

A cross‑party parliamentary committee has sounded the alarm on the explosive surge of unregulated, dangerous e‑bikes on UK streets.

In a significant new report titled ‘Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E‑Bikes’, the All‑Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking warns that high‑powered e‑bikes and conversion kits—often sold online and marketed as “off‑road only”—pose serious threats to public safety, fire stability, and the reputation of legal active travel.

 

Enflaming dangers

Chief among the report’s concerns is the sharp increase in battery‑related fires.

London Fire Brigade recorded just eight incidents in 2019, but by 2023 that number had surged to 179.

Government research estimates that e‑bike and e‑scooter fires claimed 13 lives and injured 133 people in 2022–23.

A significant driver of these fires is the use of uncertified, mass-produced lithium-ion batteries and conversion kits lacking safety mechanisms, such as thermal-runaway protection.

“A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight”

Fabian Hamilton MP, the group’s chair, described the situation as “a crisis hiding in plain sight,” highlighting the trio of issues: rampant online sales, widespread use in gig economy delivery work, and rising danger to both riders and the public.

The committee found numerous e‑bikes capable of speeds up to 70 mph, powered by 2,000 W motors, and controlled via throttles, far exceeding legal limits of 15.5 mph and 250 W

Accountability and power

To combat the threat, MPs advocate for empowering police to seize illegal e‑bikes on the spot and enabling swift disposal without prior warning.

The report also calls on online marketplaces like Amazon to ban all non-compliant listings—some of which glorify kits “for city commutes” that clearly violate UK rules.

The committee emphasises the gig economy’s role in fuelling the problem.

Delivery riders working under per‑delivery pay schemes with low earnings are turning to modified e‑bikes with extended battery range, often ignoring legality.

As one rider representing the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain explained:

“Most bikes only do about 50 miles range… I need something that can do at least 100–150 miles … that’s why you see a lot of bikes with, like, three or four battery packs on them.”

MPs urge gig platforms to treat couriers as employees, adopt shift-based pay, and take responsibility for ensuring that vehicles are legally on the road.

On the Streets

Cyclists and pedestrians report deep frustration over “frank‑en‑bikes” tearing through urban centres.

A London commuter on Reddit shared: “For me it’s the frankenbike delivery riders … with masses of batteries duct‑taped to frames … components that aren’t designed to cope with that speed or weight.”

These concerns echo calls from the London Assembly for mandatory third‑party battery certification and tighter online marketplace regulation.

Powering up

Regulators have already begun clamping down.

The Government’s Vehicle Market Surveillance Unit reports that around 58% of sampled e-bike suppliers were non-compliant in 2023– 24, resulting in product recalls, fines, and market withdrawals.

Meanwhile, the Office for Product Safety and Standards has advocated for stricter guidelines to prevent thermal-runaway failures in lithium-ion batteries.

The parliamentary report makes a suite of recommendations:

• Empower police with the authority to seize and dispose of evidence.

• Launch a scrappage scheme for illegal e‑bikes, funded via gig firms.

• Place legal responsibility on online platforms to prevent dangerous listings.

• Mandate gig economy pay reform and vehicle compliance.

• Require third‑party certification for batteries and conversion kits.

 

 

The Government now faces the task of making crucial decisions that have been long delayed in this area of transportation.

E-bikes and scooters in ‘active travel’ are poised to play a central role in Britain’s green infrastructure.

Balancing innovation with safety, fairness, and public confidence may determine the future viability of e-mobility across the nation.

Currently, the Government has failed dramatically in establishing effective regulation and providing resources and powers to those who police these areas of everyday life.

The consequences of these failures can be seen, to some extent, in the deaths and injuries that these potentially exciting, clean, and healthy new transport solutions are delivering, along with the benefits.