The dangers of low-cost electric bikes: What you’re really getting for $500
There’s a reason the phrase “you get what you pay for” has stuck around for so long – because it’s usually true. And when it comes to electric bikes, that old saying might be more important than ever.
Sure, everyone wants a deal. Prices are increasing, workers are treated worse than ever, and the immediate future of the economy seems to depend at least partially on how well a golf game goes this weekend. So I don’t blame anyone for wanting to find a bargain when it comes time to shop for the best alternative to buying an expensive car.
The problem is that a lot of people don’t realize what they’re sacrificing for those low prices, and the fact that automotive media seems to have finally woken up to electric bikes is only making that worse with dangerous expectations that don’t align with reality.
Now, add in the fact that these days, it’s easier than ever to find an e-bike online for under $600. Scroll through Amazon, Walmart, or even eBay, and you’ll see a flood of lesser-known electric bikes with flashy listings, bold promises, and suspiciously low prices. At first glance, they can seem like a great deal – especially if you’re just dipping your toe into the world of e-bikes and don’t want to spend over a grand. But here’s the truth: that bargain-bin e-bike might cost you a whole lot more in the long run, whether it’s in repairs, hospital bills, or just frustration.
Now I’m not saying you need to spend a fortune. Sure, if you have several thousand dollars on hand then I’d put you on a beautifully made Priority e-bike for city commuting or an ultra-rugged Tern for carrying cargo and children. But most of us aren’t looking to spend $3,000 on an electric bicycle, and that’s ok. You can still get a decent e-bike for a lot less, but scrimping too much can lead to a whole host of future problems.
Let’s start with what may be the most serious issue: battery safety. The battery is the heart of any electric bike, and it’s also the component most likely to cause real danger if it’s poorly made. Many of these ultra-budget e-bikes aren’t certified to UL 2849 (e-bike systems) or UL 2271 (lithium-ion battery) safety standards. That’s a big red flag.
UL certification means a battery has been rigorously tested for things like short-circuit protection, thermal runaway resistance, water ingress, and more. When you skip those safety tests to cut costs, you’re gambling with something that literally sits between your legs. That’s not an area I’d want to take that chance on.
Fires caused by uncertified or damaged e-bike batteries have become a growing concern, especially in dense urban areas. While they are still rare occurrences in the broader e-bike market, they are almost exclusively caused by non-certified batteries. Cities like New York have already moved to ban the sale of e-bikes without UL-listed batteries for precisely this reason. And while these fires are rare relative to the number of bikes out there, they tend to involve the cheapest models on the market – often the ones with questionable quality control and little to no brand accountability.
But battery issues are just the beginning. The rest of the bike matters too, and that’s where a lot of these low-cost options fall apart… literally. Most $400 to $600 e-bikes are built with generic components from unknown suppliers, slapped together in factories that don’t perform long-term frame durability testing or ensure consistent torque specs on assembly lines.
I’ve personally bought bikes in this price range (you know, for science) that arrived with brakes that weren’t fully connected, bolts that weren’t tightened, and wheels out of true right out of the box.
These bikes often use plastic components, pot-metal crank arms, cheap suspension forks that do nothing but squeak, and undersized brake rotors that struggle to stop a 65 lb (30 kg) e-bike, let alone one with a rider onboard. That’s not just an annoyance – it’s a serious safety issue.
E-bikes move faster and carry more weight than traditional bicycles, which means every component needs to work harder. If the brakes fade, the wheels wobble, or the frame starts to flex in ways it shouldn’t, you’re putting your safety at risk. We’ve seen e-bikes break in half before, and it isn’t pretty.
Then there’s the ride quality. Cheap e-bikes often use unbranded motors and basic square wave controllers that provide jerky acceleration, sluggish pedal assist, and otherwise poor performance. The battery may say “48V 10Ah” but only deliver half that in real-world use. Range claims are frequently exaggerated (though to be fair, much of the industry is guilty there), and there’s often no support line to call if something goes wrong. Once the bike arrives at your door, you’re on your own.
All of this isn’t to say that every low-cost e-bike is a death trap. There are exceptions. Lectric’s XP Lite 2.0 is an excellent example of a sub-$800 e-bike that punches way above its weight class. It comes from a reputable company, includes safety-focused features, is UL-compliant, and has a real US-based support team behind it. Lectric isn’t alone, as there are also good entry-level options with solid reputations and better-than-average quality bikes out there, though much of the industry would agree that Lectric is leading considerably in that regard. But keep in mind that bikes like the XP Lite 2.0 are the outliers – not the norm.
And while $800 isn’t exactly a hard and fast rule, I’ve rarely seen something below that figure that I’d be comfortable putting my mom on.
The biggest problem is that it’s hard for new buyers to tell the difference. When every product listing looks polished and every spec sheet claims 40 miles (65 km) of range and “powerful 500W motor,” it’s easy to get lured into a bad purchase.
But an e-bike isn’t a blender. It’s a transportation vehicle. You’re trusting it to carry you at 20+ mph (32+ km/h) through traffic, down hills, and across intersections. Saving a few hundred bucks at checkout probably isn’t worth it if the bike can’t stop properly… or worse, catches fire in your garage.
If your budget is tight, that’s understandable. But rather than buying the cheapest e-bike you can find today, consider saving a bit longer, buying used from a reputable brand on places like Facebook Marketplace or Cragislist, or looking for refurbished models with some kind of warranty. And whatever you do, make sure the battery is certified, the brand has real customer support, and you’re not putting your safety in the hands of a mystery vendor with a generic Gmail address.
Electric bikes are incredible tools for transportation, fun, and freedom. But when they’re made with the wrong priorities – cutting cost at all costs – they stop being tools and start being liabilities. Do your homework, buy from a reputable company, and don’t let the price tag blind you to what really matters: your safety.
Read more: Want to see a list of GOOD yet inexpensive e-bikes? Here are the best we’ve tested under $1,000
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Tesla’s stock (TSLA) crashed by as much as 5% in pre-market trading after President Trump threatened to set DOGE on Elon Musk, who has been criticizing his ‘Big Beautiful Bill’.
After being kindly shown the door to the White House last month, Musk had a brief moment of clarity and started to criticize Trump and the Republican party, which he helped elect with almost $300 million of his own money in the 2024 elections.
He highlighted how Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is expected to increase the deficit and debt. The Tesla CEO even linked Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, something that has been well known for decades, but Musk conveniently ignored it as he was backing the President and wearing hats that read, “Trump was right about everything.”
Musk quickly calmed down and even apologized for “going too far” and started praising Trump again.
That didn’t last long.
Over the last few days, as the Senate attempts to pass Trump’s budget and tax bill, Musk has renewed his efforts to halt the legislation.
The CEO appeared to renew the attacks after the Senate updated the bill to kill the EV incentive sooner and to increase taxes on solar and wind projects.
However, Musk said that he doesn’t mind EV and renewable energy subsidies going away, but he believes that fossil fuel subsidies should also be removed, which is not in the plans at all.
Trump campaigned on Musk’s money, claiming that he would get America to “drill, baby, drill” again.
The CEO went as far as threatening any Senator who vote for the bill, all Republicans, to face his money in their next primary. He added that if the bill passes, he will create a new “America Party.’
Musk’s attacks have focused on the bill itself and the Republicans voting for it, but Trump likes to call it his bill, and unsurprisingly, he is unhappy with Musk.
Last night, he took to Truth Social to highlight again that Musk “would probably have to close up shop and head back to South Africa” without US government subsidies.
The President then suggested that he could have DOGE, a department that Musk created, go after him and the subsidies that his companies get:
Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one. Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!
Tesla’s stock dropped by more than 4% in pre-market trading following the President’s threat.
Musk responded to the President by pointing out that he is asking to remove the subsidies, but he didn’t add his usual caveat of also removing all subsidies for fossil fuel.
Electrek’s Take
It’s both sad and funny to see Elon now. It’s sad because the US is plunging back into an energy dark age of relying on fossil fuels. Still, it’s amusing because Elon is acting as if he’s just now realizing what he has done, despite everyone but a few cult members screaming at him that this was going to happen for the last year.
Elon got what he wanted out of Trump with his $300 million, and now, he realizes that his influence has limits and that Trump is going to do way more damage than just what Musk wanted out of him: to stop illegal immigration and the so scary “woke mind virus.”
The result will be a significant blow to the growth of electric vehicles and clean energy in the US, and Tesla will be affected in the process, exactly what we have been saying for the last year.
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Police across the US are cracking down on illegal use of out-of-class e-bikes or non-street-legal electric motorcycles used on public roads. It used to be that if you sped off on an illegal electric dirt bike or mini bike after a traffic stop in California, there was a good chance you’d get away. Most police departments don’t want to engage in high-speed chases over these types of violations, especially if the rider isn’t wearing a helmet or is weaving through dense traffic. And since these types of bikes almost never have license plates, merely outrunning or outmaneuvering a police cruiser through some bushes or over a sidewalk was usually enough to evade justice. But lately, a new kind of chase is happening – from above.
Several California police departments are now turning to small, simple-to-operate drones similar to consumer drones to track down illegal e-bike and electric dirt bike riders who flee traffic stops.
These drones, often built on platforms used by consumer drones but with upgraded camera equipment, are quiet, effective, and don’t put pedestrians or officers at risk like a high-speed pursuit.
And while the tech isn’t new, the way it’s being deployed marks a turning point in how cities are responding to the rise of unregistered, high-powered electric motorbikes and minibikes on public roads.
Recently, the Irvine Police Department shared details on how they caught a minor who was illegally operating a Stark Varg electric dirt bike on public roads and then sped away from police attempting to conduct a traffic stop.
“A 16-year-old juvenile recklessly fled from officers during an attempted traffic stop on Jamboree, reaching high speeds. The rider ran multiple red lights, placing innocent lives in danger. Thankfully, with the assistance of our drone team, officers quickly located the teenager and safely took him into custody. He was later released to his parent. The juvenile was unlicensed, and the motorcycle was purchased by a parent who knowingly allowed their child to ride it. That parent was cited, and the motorcycle was impounded.”
In a similar case just a few weeks ago, the Desert Hot Springs Police Department used a similar drone setup to catch a juvenile illegally operating a non-street-legal minibike on public roads.
As the department shared in a social media post mocking the rider, “Officers attempted to stop a suspect illegally riding a mini bike on city streets. Instead of pulling over like a reasonable person, he chose to flee… on a mini bike. Little did he know, our drone team was already in the air and had front-row seats to this low-speed drama. They followed him as he weaved through traffic, blew through stop signs, and ultimately led us right back to his own front door.”
The DHSPD explained that after the drone watched from above and followed the rider home, police officers arrived and knocked on his front door, which he promptly answered. “He was arrested at his residence without incident,” the post continued. “The mini bike? Impounded. The escape attempt? Hilarious.”
Some police departments in California are still employing police helicopters as their go-to “eye in the sky” for tracking Sur-ron riders who try to run from police, but these light and inexpensive drones are proving to be a more cost-effective and efficient alternative.
The rise of unregistered and often illegally modified electric motorbikes that don’t fit inside existing three-class electric bicycle regulations – many of them closer to light motorcycles than bicycles – has created a real challenge for cities. Riders can disappear down alleyways, weave through traffic, or vanish into neighborhoods where a patrol car can’t follow.
But a few grand for a simple drone? That’s a safer, cheaper solution that can hover and follow quietly from above, sometimes all the way to a suspect’s front door.
This drone-based enforcement strategy raises some interesting questions – not just about surveillance, but about how cities will regulate a fast-evolving micromobility landscape. As out-of-class electric bikes and light electric dirt bikes blur legal categories and create enforcement gaps, tech like drones is stepping in to close them.
Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on your perspective. But one thing’s for sure: the days of just gunning it and getting away are coming to an end.
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The Dodge Charger Daytona EV made headlines when it rolled out fake engine noises as a way to make the EV appeal to muscle car drivers. As it turns out, they weren’t the right sort of fake engine noises – and now Stellantis has to recall 8,000 of them for a fix.
According to the ChryCo fans at Mopar Insider, Stellantis is recalling ~8,390 examples of its 2024 to 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EVs because of an exterior amplifier that may be missing critical enabling the amp to emit exterior sounds – including the Federally mandated pedestrian warning sounds designed to keep pedestrians safe.
What’s more, the recall’s “suspect period” reportedly begins on 30APR2024, when the first 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona was produced, and ends 18MAR2025 … when the last Charger EV was produced.
RECALL CHRONOLOGY
- On April 17, 2025, the FCA US LLC (“FCA US”) Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance (“TSRC”) organization opened an investigation into certain 2024–2025 model year Dodge Charger vehicles that may not emit exterior sound.
- From April 17, 2025, through May 13, 2025, FCA US TSRC met with FCA US Engineering and the supplier to understand all potential failure modes associated with the issue. They also reviewed warranty data, field records, and customer assistance records to determine field occurrences.
- On May 14, 2025, the FCA US TSRC organization determined that a vehicle build issue existed on certain vehicles related to a lack of EV exterior sound, potentially resulting in noncompliance with FMVSS No. 141.
Without the software patch, the vehicles don’t comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 141, “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.” The rule requires noisemakers for EVs and hybrids when operating under 19 mph, the safest speeds for pedestrians.
Basically, if you have a Dodge Charger EV, expect to get a recall notice.
It just keeps getting funnier
If you’re not familiar with the Charger Daytona EV’s “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust,” it’s a system that employs a combination of digital sound synthesis and a physical tuning chamber (translation: a speaker) to produce a 126 decibel sound that approximately imitates a Hellcat Hemi V8 ICE. That’s loud enough to cause most people physical pain, according to Yale University – putting it somewhere between a loud rock concert and a passenger jet at takeoff.
While you could argue that such noises are part and parcel with powerful combustion, they’re completely irrelevant to an EV, and speak to a particular sort of infantile delusion of masculinity that I, frankly, have never been able to wrap my head around. Something akin to the, “Hey, look at me! I’m a big tough guy!” attention-whoring of a suburban Harley rider in a “Sons of Anarchy” novelty cut, without even enough courage to ride a motorcycle, you know?
You know – and I bet you can help me dial in the the comparison to perfection (and help me explain why the car just isn’t selling) in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
SOURCE: Mopar Insiders; featured image by Stellantis.
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