Many conversion kits available online do not include the battery, an essential component of any e-bike. The selection of a suitable battery and charger is left to the consumer to source and ensure compatibility.
This seems like a policy failure in the UK, if manufacturers are unwilling/unable to include the battery with a conversion kit. I think it’s fair to say that of the people looking for a conversion kit, many are looking to build an ebike to a particular price point. If the laws and regulations are leading to a situation where incompatibilities are likely and very hazardous, then it may be time to raise the floor of the market and require that all conversion kits come with a compatible battery – and probably a battery warranty.
If it’s a question of customs controls for cheap, imported goods, then that’s a governance failure. I’m informed that events in 2016 were meant to secure the British border re: goods and regulations, so we’ll see if that actually plays out.
The thing is, most of these “conversion kits” convert a bicycle into an illegal motorbike, not into a legal pedelec. There’s no way government will - or should - make that easier
I feel attacked by the statement that diy builds are the biggest risk. Mine is definitely better than the budget prebuilts I’ve tried and one of those while it wasn’t a fire did have a battery failure. I’d actually be tempted to go even cheaper on the motor. I got a cyc photon but I actually prefer the modded tzds2 on my brothers bike for a few reasons.
