Investigation reveals 'illegal for road use' and 'dangerous' products listed as e-bikes by UK retail giants
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
An investigation by Cycling Electric has uncovered that major retailers including Argos, Very.co.uk, and eBay are listing products marketed as ‘electric bikes’ that would be illegal for road use, often without the necessary consumer disclaimers stating that the items are for private land use only.
The investigation reviewed listings across major online marketplaces and retail sites, uncovering widespread misuse of the “electric bike” category to promote throttle-powered or overpowered vehicles that fall outside the UK’s Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) regulations, with Cycling Electric citing that numerous listings that would, under UK law, be classified as light electric mopeds requiring registration, vehicle tax, insurance, and a driving licence, rather than as e-bikes.
Among the listings highlighted was Argos’s Razor Rambler, which features a 350W motor and no pedals, relying solely on a throttle for power. Despite consumers raising legality concerns in Argos’s own Q&A section and the retailer confirming the product is not road legal, the listing remains without an appropriate disclaimer.
Very.co.uk was also found to be listing throttle-powered products, such as the Zinc Formula E Venture 2.0 and the Zinc Sprintr Seated Electric Scooter, both of which exceed the legal 250W motor limit and lack pedal assist, with one of the models carrying a clear road legality warning but the other not doing so despite being equally non-compliant.
The investigation also found that eBay continues to host listings for products previously flagged as dangerous by the Office for Product Safety Standards (OPSS), including Ridstar e-bike models such as the Q20-Plus, Q20-Mini, and E26 Pro, which were deemed serious fire risks and even rejected at the UK border.
In addition to recalled items, eBay remains "rife with overpowered conversion kits and complete bikes that far exceed legal e-bike limits," according to the investigation, with some sellers including warnings but many not doing so, leaving consumers at risk of unknowingly purchasing illegal or unsafe vehicles.
The findings come amid a broader push from the cycling industry for greater consumer awareness through initiatives such as the E-Bike Positive campaign, supported by the ACT, which promotes the many benefits of quality, compliant e-bikes sold by reputable retailers, many from the independent sector.
Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT, said: “It’s disturbing to see these products listed in the way that they are, and it’s good that Cycling Electric were able to point it out. There’s enough that needs to be done about online marketplaces misleading customers with unsafe products and listings, without national retail giants becomg part of the issue. Independent cycling retailers go to great lengths to make sure products are safe and properly listed and advertised, so big retailers have no excuses for this.
"In addition to this, online marketplaces including eBay must employ more thorough regulation on listings as certain products being sold on those platforms go a step further into downright illegal territory, which needs to stop.”
A list of trusted e-bike retailers can be found on the E-Bike Positive campaign website.