“Surge” in illegal e-bikes and unsafe batteries prompt call for action
London Councils is calling on the government to introduce “urgent” action on the “surge” of “unsafe e-bikes, conversion kits, and uncertified lithium-ion batteries. The group, which manages 95% of London’s roads, has warned that “while e-bikes play a vital role in helping Londoners travel more sustainably, the rapid increase in illegally modified and unsafe vehicles is putting riders and the public at serious risk.”
It is calling on the government to use its powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to “tighten the definition of online marketplaces, making them accountable for unsafe or illegal products,” and “empower Trading Standards with increased resources, stronger enforcement powers, and the ability to issue on-the-spot fines and remove unsafe products from sale.”
It has also called for national collision data (STATS19) to be updated, allowing crashes involving illegal e-bikes to be “properly recorded and monitored.” Without these, it has warned of a surge in “illegal and non-compliant vehicles,” saying that they will continue to “flood online platforms, fuelling fire risks in homes and collisions on roads.”
Boroughs have recently recorded reports of converted or high-powered e-bikes that can reach speeds of up to 70mph, far above legal limits. “These vehicles are not e-bikes but motorbikes in law,” London Boroughs said, “meaning riders require a licence, registration, insurance, and must wear a helmet.” Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade has responded to an increase in lithium-ion battery fires, with four deaths in London linked to unsafe charging or modification.
“To support safety for riders and raise awareness,” London Councils and TfL have launched a new digital e-bike safety factsheet to “help riders make informed and safe choices.”
The factsheet, which will be shared with delivery riders through major platforms and via borough channels, provides “clear, practical guidance on how to identify legal e-bikes, safe charging and storage, and what to do if a lithium-ion battery fails or catches fire.”
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