Government to help businesses produce safer e-bike batteries with release of official statutory guidelines
Posted on in Cycles News
The Government has published new statutory guidelines to help businesses produce and distribute safe e-bike batteries and reduce the risk of unsafe products being sold online or as part of a conversion kit.
The guidance aims to address safety concerns surrounding poorly made lithium-ion batteries, which can pose significant fire and explosion risks, with the guidelines outlining safety mechanisms to prevent thermal runaway—a key cause of such incidents—and provide clear instructions for businesses on ensuring compliance with legal safety standards.
In a press release announcing the publication of the guidance, the Government states that companies must now consider these guidelines when determining whether their products are safe as the making or selling of unsafe lithium-ion batteries is a criminal offence.
Products needing to adhere by the new safety guidelines include those sold via online marketplaces or as part of conversion kits that enable users to retrofit traditional bicycles with electric motors, which have recently grown in popularity but have been associated with safety issues when paired with substandard batteries.
A spokesperson for the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) said: "Regulatory action against non-compliant and unsafe products forms part of wider Government activity to make sure that our ambition for increasing the use of cleaner and active modes of transport, including the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, is supported by consumers being able to purchase safe products."
News of the Government guidance comes after the launch of the E-Bike Positive campaign from the ACT and other key cycling organisations, which aims to promote the positive aspects of e-bike usage and to ensure fair and accurate reporting of e-bike-related news.
Jonathan Harrison, Director of ACT, said: "It's fantastic to see OPSS stepping up to address the growing concern of unsafe e-bike batteries and conversion kits - especially those bought directly from online marketplaces. These faulty products not only pose serious safety risks but also tarnish the e-bike industry, anything that helps improve the overall safety and reputation of eBikes in the market is welcome".