Why "cheap" e-scooters from abroad are the most expensive in the end: The truth online retailers won't tell you

Updated: November 2025 | Reading time: 8 min

Have you found an electric scooter on online marketplaces like AliExpress, Alibaba, or Geekbuying that costs half as much as it does here? The offer seems like a dream. In 2023, over two billion small parcels from outside the union arrived in the EU, many of them containing just such "bargain" purchases (European Commission, 2023).

However, a trap often lies hidden behind the low price. As a legitimate Slovenian retailer (evolt.eu), we deal daily with customers who have bought "a pig in a poke" and are now seeking help they can't get. This article reveals why our prices are different and why buying from a verified EU retailer is cheaper and safer in the long run.

1. Customs, VAT, and the "Grey Area" of Imports

The most common reason for the low prices on Chinese platforms is tax evasion. When you buy from a Slovenian retailer, the price includes 22% VAT and all import duties. On foreign platforms, however, the following happens:

The Problem with Invoices

For Slovenian companies and consumers, a valid invoice is crucial. EU legislation requires an invoice to contain the seller's VAT ID and a clear specification of the tax. Many buyers on AliExpress only receive a payment confirmation, which is not a valid invoice.

This means:

• You cannot claim the warranty.
• Companies cannot deduct VAT.
• Proving ownership in case of theft or registration is difficult.

2. Safety Risk: Batteries That Catch Fire

The biggest price difference comes from the quality of the components. E-scooters from reputable brands use certified battery cells (e.g., LG, Samsung) with an advanced Battery Management System (BMS). Cheap copies use so-called "no-name" cells without safety fuses.

The statistics are alarming: In 2023, the London Fire Brigade recorded a 78% increase in e-bike and e-scooter fires, most of which were linked to unverified batteries purchased online (London Fire Brigade, 2024). The new EU Battery Regulation tightens the requirements, which cheap imports do not meet.

3. Warranty: "Send It Back to China"

The Slovenian Consumer Protection Act (ZVPot-1) guarantees you a mandatory warranty and protection against material defects. But what about purchases from outside the EU?

When the motor on a "cheap" scooter breaks down (a common problem), the seller on AliExpress will often tell you: "Send the product back for repair."

This is where an unsolvable problem arises:

Shipping a large lithium-ion battery (which is classified as dangerous goods) from Slovenia to China is nearly impossible and extremely expensive for an individual (often over €300). In practice, this means you have no warranty.

4. Service and Spare Parts

At our shop (and other specialized service centers), we are seeing an increase in customers asking for repairs of unknown Chinese brands. Unfortunately, we often have to turn them away. Why?

• Incompatibility: The parts are non-standard and cannot be sourced in the EU.
• Liability: A technician cannot guarantee the safety of a vehicle that is fundamentally technically deficient (e.g., poor frame welds).

Buying from evolt.eu means we have spare parts in stock or can quickly source them directly from the manufacturer, with whom we have an official contract.

Conclusion: Don't Buy Twice

An old proverb says: "I'm not rich enough to buy cheap things." In electric mobility, this holds true more than anywhere else. The price difference between a "mysterious" import and a purchase from us is not the retailer's profit—it's the price of your safety, paid taxes, a guaranteed warranty, and peace of mind.

Sources and References

• European Commission. (2023). Customs reform: Taking the Customs Union to the next level. Retrieved from ec.europa.eu
• European Commission. (n.d.). Buying goods online coming from a non-European Union country. Taxation and Customs Union. Retrieved from taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu
• Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia (FURS). (2024). Spletno nakupovanje in poštne pošiljke [Online shopping and postal items]. Retrieved from fu.gov.si
• London Fire Brigade. (2024, August 28). E-bike and e-scooter fires: Safety warnings. Retrieved from london-fire.gov.uk
• Ranjbar, S. (2023, December 29). The pitfalls of purchasing electric bike conversion kits from Amazon, Alibaba, and AliExpress. EbikeBC. Retrieved from ebikebc.com
• Tom. (2025, March 3). How much does an electric bike battery cost? (2025 prices). Doctibike. Retrieved from doctibike.com