Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – An electric bicycle spontaneously combusted in a tunnel, and several riders were seen racing modified electric bicycles on the motor vehicle lane – two seemingly independent dangerous incidents, yet both pointed to the same illegal modification operation. On March 6, reporters learned from the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Corps that recently, police, in conjunction with the Shanghai Municipal Market Supervision Administration, successfully cracked a case involving the illegal modification and sale of electric bicycles worth over 90,000 yuan, arresting the shop owner, Yin, and seizing six modified vehicles on site. Currently, Yin has been placed under criminal coercive measures for suspected sale of counterfeit and substandard products.
On January 13, 2026, at approximately 10:00 PM, an emergency occurred in the Hongmei South Road Tunnel in Minhang District, Shanghai. An electric bicycle suddenly caught fire while in motion, and the fire spread rapidly. Upon receiving the report, police and firefighters rushed to the scene immediately, quickly extinguished the flames, controlled the danger, and promptly diverted tunnel traffic. Fortunately, no one was injured. An investigation revealed that the rider, Yuan, purchased the modified electric bicycle from a shop in Pujiang Town, Minhang District, Shanghai, in pursuit of a "high-speed experience." The bicycle's battery, controller, and motor had all been illegally modified. Police imposed administrative penalties on Yuan for disrupting public order.
Coincidentally, on the same evening, Changning police, acting on a tip from a citizen, apprehended six individuals racing modified electric bicycles in a motor vehicle lane. Further investigation revealed that these illegally modified vehicles also originated from the same shop in Pujiang Town. To completely eliminate this safety hazard, on January 30, 2026, the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Corps Mobile Detachment and the Minhang Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Detachment, in conjunction with market supervision departments, conducted a raid. Inside the shop, law enforcement officers apprehended the shop owner, Yin, who was modifying vehicles, and seized six illegally modified electric bicycles.
Yin was criminally detained by police on suspicion of selling counterfeit and substandard products. (Photo provided by Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Corps)
Under interrogation, Yin confessed to his illegal activities. Since February 2025, Yin, seeking illegal profits, illegally operated an electric bicycle "modification" business, soliciting customers through online platforms. He not only sold modified vehicles but also provided modification services for core components such as batteries, controllers, and motors. It is reported that the modified vehicles had battery voltages as high as 60 to 72 volts, with maximum speeds reaching 60-100 km/h, far exceeding national mandatory standards. Through verification of financial records and mobile phone communication information, the police initially determined that his illegal sales amounted to over 90,000 yuan.
According to the "Electric Bicycle Safety Technical Specifications" (GB17761-2024), which officially came into effect on September 1, 2025, the nominal voltage of electric bicycle batteries should be less than or equal to 48V, the maximum design speed should not exceed 25 km/h, and the battery pack, controller, and speed limiter must all meet anti-tampering requirements. The vehicle modified by Yin Moumou seriously exceeded standards in key parameters such as voltage and speed, and the modifications breached the original vehicle's safety protection design, making it a typical "substandard product." Currently, Yin Moumou has been criminally detained by the police on suspicion of selling counterfeit and substandard products, and the case is under further investigation.
"Next, the police will further investigate the downstream sellers and customers of the modified vehicles, verifying the flow of vehicles one by one, and eliminating related safety hazards as much as possible," said Liu Weijie, instructor of the Enforcement and Case Handling Brigade of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Corps. "At the same time, the police will also record and investigate all modification clues discovered during routine traffic enforcement, and work with relevant departments to form a joint regulatory force to resolutely crack down on the illegal modification and sale of electric bicycles at the source, maintaining a safe and orderly traffic environment." (End)
