Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent shops from selling e-bike motor kits which exceed the 250-watt legal limit.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has a market surveillance unit (MSU), which inspects vehicles, trailers and equipment to make sure they meet safety and environmental standards.

The DVSA’s MSU, often working with trading standards, takes enforcement action against retailers selling electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPC) that do not meet regulations. Between April 2022 and December 2023, it prosecuted seven EPAC retailers for selling products that did not meet requirements, including excess power.

The DVSA’s MSU will continue with the broad market surveillance of the EAPC market to ensure industry compliance, including investigating the sale of motor kits that exceed legal limits where intelligence suggest this is a problem area.