The Bicycle Association (BA) and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), have issued a joint response to Electrical Safety First’s (ESF) proposed legislation on e-bike fire safety – also using the opportunity to launch two guidance notes for the UK cycling industry.
The proposal of the ESF is for legislation that would require the immediate approval of a mandatory third party of e-bikes and batteries, among other aspects.
Peter Eland, technical and policy director at BA, said: “The Cycling Association and all responsible companies in the UK cycling industry very much share Electrical Safety First’s urgent focus on public safety.
“We also share the desire for the Government to act as quickly as possible to address the root causes of the recent increase in e-scooter and e-bike fires.
“However, while the introduction of mandatory third-party testing could certainly be part of the solution, it must be complemented by much stricter enforcement of product safety for products supplied to UK consumers directly from overseas sellers, often via online marketplaces.”
This has been identified by Fire and Rescue services as a key area of concern for these lithium fires.
London Fire Brigade has also identified the app-based food delivery sector as a key area of concern due to the widespread use of bicycles converted to e-bikes via e-bike conversion kits (often coming from overseas via online markets) or by modifying existing e-bikes, both high risk factors for fire safety.
Eland added: “Any Bill that aims to significantly address the risk of fire must impose responsibility on food delivery app operators to ensure that the equipment used by their riders is safe.
“The BA is ready to work with the ESF on amendments to the proposed bill to address these aspects. The BA would also propose more practical arrangements for the mandatory approval of e-bikes and batteries.
“Responsible suppliers in the industry would readily meet the requirements for the proposed mandatory approval process, because they already have evidence of extensive safety testing of products in place.”
The FSE Bill does not propose a transition period for the establishment of the approval capacity and for the approval of existing models to be granted.
Eland said: “The consequence would be an abrupt halt to months of sales while even responsible suppliers waited for approval.
“We welcome the public awareness around e-bike fire safety that the ESF proposal generates. However, the BA notes that the Government’s product safety regulator, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, is also currently working on this topic to develop official, evidence-based proposals for regulatory actions.
“The BA, on behalf of the responsible e-bike industry, contributes positively to this work which, we hope, will address the causes of battery fires with a comprehensive package of measures that will be implemented quickly.”
The ESF proposal coincides with a joint industry initiative by BA and ACT to raise industry and consumer awareness of the difference between e-bikes that are generally very safe, and those that can be more risk of fire.
Cycle industry trade bodies have published industry fact sheets that aim to counter the often misleading media headlines.
The first summarizes statements from fire services and industry experts to clarify the distinction between e-bikes from the reputable industry (which are generally very safe) as opposed to e-bikes, conversion kits, batteries and chargers that can be a significant fire hazard if certain. Risk factors are present, for example being purchased from overseas via online markets.
The second clarifies exactly what is street legal as an e-bike – and makes clear the current legal status of vehicles that are often incorrectly reported as e-bikes but are actually unregistered motorcycles.
Documents can be downloaded online at bicycleassociation.org.uk gold cycleassociation.uk
Additional joint industry initiatives are in development and will be announced soon, the two trade associations say.
Excellent write-up