Eco Innovation

UK government publishes research into e-bike safety

29th January 2025
Caitlin Gittins
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The UK government has published new research into the safety of e-bike and e-scooter lithium-ion batteries, chargers and e-bike conversion kits.

As part of the research, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) commissioned Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) to produce the research and strengthen the Government's evidence base on the risks associated with unsafe e-bike and e-scooter batteries and chargers. This follows a rise in the number of fires in the UK related to these products, some of which have tragically led to fatalities.

The new research reveals insights into:

  • how battery failures occur during real-world use and environments, including scenarios of foreseeable misuse or modification
  • the types of processes and materials used in manufacturing products that achieve safer design and safer use of lithium-ion batteries
  • potential shortcomings in technical requirements in product standards that have not kept pace with technological innovation

The research pools together evidence and data from the UK and overseas with input from stakeholders and busineses across the supply chain. Evidence gathering has been supported by detailed technical product inspections and product testing in laboratory settings.

OPSS is assessing the evidence to inform future activity as well as working to support wider government and interested stakeholders on future actions that could improve the safety of these products.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to assist OPSS to achieve a deeper understanding of the root causes of these battery fires," said a WMG spokesperson.

OPSS is currently undertaking a programme of enforcement and market surveillance activity. In December 2024, the government published new statutory guidelines for businesses producing and distributing lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes. The guidelines set out that such batteries must contain mechanisms capable of preventing thermal runaway to be considered safe products.

OPSS is also assessing products and conducting checks on businesses selling e-bikes, e-scooters and kits used to convert standard bikes to e-bikes, both online and on the High Street. Since 2022, there have been 21 product recalls, and 29 Product Safety Reports published for unsafe or non-compliant e-bikes or e-scooters subject to corrective action.

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