That is also a problem as the small batteries aren't wanted by the scrap men - they have a glut of better Western scrap thanks to our throwaway society being "greenwashed" recently so folk are encouraged to recycle without a domestic outlet for much of the scrap.
I still think this issue is being spun a bit by Western media and minds, folk projecting their dislike of China's political system into their views whereas the reality is this is a somewhat mundane domestic issue of traffic laws in a sovereign nation, which most countries have been through at some point in their development as road usage patterns change.
Interestingly, if you read the articles in the China Daily newspaper which must be approved by the state if not overtly controlled by them, the bike dealers feel safe enough to openly state their anger and defiance of the authorities to the journalists of a globally published news outlet.
Given what can happen to dissenters in China, that the dealers are brazen enough to do this does make me feel that this is much more the start of a "negotiation/debate" process between road users, authorities and manufacturers than a pernmanent blanket ban on e-bikes.
I can however see why "Western" manufacturers are jittery as a sudden greater shift to BS EN whatever type "Western" bikes by domestic Chinese manufacturers (as opposed to these being specifically made on contract for export) may of course mean more being exported and could start eroding the slim margins of incumbent manufacturers..
Last edited:
