UK MPs now demand Amazon and eBay to strengthen their control over ebike and charger sales because multiple unsafe products continue to appear on their platforms. The UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) identified Ridstar Chinese products on both platforms as dangerous because they contained faulty electrical components which created serious fire hazards.
The government had issued product bans yet these items remained available to UK consumers. Fabian Hamilton and Olly Glover who lead the parliamentary group for cycling and walking asked Amazon and eBay to remove these listings while improving their seller verification processes. The MPs advocated for establishing a national Kitemark certification which would verify ebikes have passed fire tests.
Amazon took down the specific Ridstar item while establishing safety certification requirements for third-party sellers. eBay took down the flagged listings but continues to examine more than 1,400 used ebikes that raise questions about their safety.
The UK faces an invisible crisis because illegal electric bikes along with potentially deadly models are being sold in the market. Amazon and eBay have made safety policy commitments yet lawmakers insist on immediate and robust safety measures.
