Labour takes drastic action against e-bikes with new criminal offence rules to help stop fatal fires
New rules for e-bikes have been launched as the Government looks to crackdown on the dangerous selling and production of green transport following a series of fatal fires.
The guidelines aim to tackle safety concerns after at least ten fire-related fatalities involving e-bikes or e-scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries occurred last year.
The regulations specifically target the risk of thermal runaway, which can result in serious fires or explosions when batteries are poorly designed or manufactured.
Under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, producers and distributors must ensure their products meet strict safety requirements before placing them on the market in the UK.
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The guidelines apply to all lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, including those sold online and those supplied as part of conversion kits.
It is now a criminal offence to place an unsafe lithium-ion battery on the market, with the regulations covering England, Scotland and Wales.
A key requirement is the inclusion of an effective battery management system or equivalent safety features that can protect the battery from damage.
These systems must be able to detect individual cell voltage, battery pack current, and cell temperature during both charging and discharging, according to the rules.
The protection system must prevent charging or discharging from causing over- or under-voltage of cells, over-current of the pack, and dangerous temperature variations.
Battery design and construction must also resist damage from external sources, including extreme temperatures, liquids, and normal wear and tear. Manufacturers must provide clear information about battery compatibility and safe charging practices.
The new rules released by the Office for Product Safety and Standards have been granted significant enforcement powers alongside Local Authority Trading Standards.
The stricter rules come after London firefighters tackled 179 e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2023. Last year three people sadly lost their lives and more than 60 people were injured due to e-bike fires. So far this year, the Brigade has attended around 100 fires.
London Fire Brigade’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention & Protection, Richard Field said: “When shopping from third-party sellers via online marketplaces or auction sites, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters compared to buying from high street shops, so you can’t be confident that your purchases will meet the correct safety standards.
“We are urging anyone looking to buy an e-bike or e-scooter, or the batteries, chargers or conversion kits, do so from a reputable seller.”
Rajdeep Datta, Director, Trustworthy Shopping Experience, Amazon said: “The safety of customers is our top priority. We believe that initiatives like this, which brings together organisations like London Fire Brigade and Amazon, can provide more effective product safety advice and keep customers safe.”
Regulation against non-compliant and unsafe products forms part of wider Government activity to make sure the use of e-bikes and e-scooters continue to operate safely.
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According to the London Fire Brigade, e-bikes and e-scooters are some of the biggest causes of fires due to their batteries with research finding that one fire is seen to every two days.