"It is a bit of a wild west out there" in terms of safety, electric bike shop owner says
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
The widespread popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters means "it is a bit of a wild west out there" in terms of safety, an electric bike shop owner has told the BBC.
Last month, a senior coroner called for government action over electric bike battery fires after the death of a man who was trying to escape a blaze at his home.
The Kings Speech promised better regulation of high-risk products such as lithium-ion batteries, which are found in these vehicles.
Welcoming the news, David Tod of ACT member Take Charge Bikes in Bristol said: "Some of the stuff on the internet isn't so safe. If you overcharge these batteries, they will continue to charge, and it will ultimately end in a volatile situation."
Safety campaigners hope that will mean a clampdown on online e-bike sellers.
Mr Tod has been selling e-bikes in his shop since 2010. He said he has seen a lot of bikes with electrical issues in his time.
"Unfortunately, I think there's a lot of cheap and cheerful bikes out there that look really, really pretty," he said.
"They seem to be quite well priced, but the manufacturing is slightly lacking in quality, especially in the battery areas and the chargers."
"Some people definitely tamper with the batteries and it's not a wise idea."
He recommends buying e-bikes and e-scooters from brick-and-mortar shops or a reputable online store.
He also said the UKCA trademark "guarantees that it's a good quality bike".
"The best advice is to go to a local bike shop that you know has experience with e-bikes," he said.
In 2018, Avon Fire and Rescue Service attended just three fires involving lithium-ion batteries. Last year that had increased to 53 calls for help, and so far this year firefighters have attended 40 calls involving the batteries.
The fire service has backed calls for tighter regulations and has issued safety advice.
- Do not try to tackle a fire involving lithium-ion batteries yourself, dial 999 and ask for the fire service
- Make sure you have smoke detectors that are tested on a regular basis
- Do not charge lithium-ion batteries at night or in the room where you sleep
- Think about how you will get safely from where you sleep out of the house and do not charge anything on that route
- If you damage a battery, for example by crashing a bike, check it for signs of damage and replace it if you have any doubts
- Do not charge a damaged battery
- Use professional installers if you want to retrofit a bike with a battery and get second-hand items properly checked
- Buy replacement chargers from a trusted retailer and never use a counterfeit charger