Government publishes independent research report on e-bike battery safety

The OPSS commissioned Warwick Manufacturing Group to produce the research in order to improve Government’s evidence base on the risks associated with unsafe e-bike and e-scooter batteries and chargers following a rise in the number of fires in the UK related to these products, some of which have led to fatalities.

The research affords new insight 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 product manufacture 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 brings together evidence and data from the UK and overseas with input from stakeholders and businesses across the supply chain. This evidence gathering has been supported by detailed technical product inspections and product testing in laboratory settings.

The OPSS is now carefully assessing the evidence to inform future activity and is working to support wider Government and interested stakeholders on future actions that could be taken to improve the safety of these products.

The regulatory activity update, published alongside the research, sets out how the Government has been taking forward emerging evidence from the report and outlines immediate next steps.

Deeper understanding

Commenting on behalf of the Warwick Manufacturing Group, a spokesperson said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to assist the OPSS in achieving a deeper understanding of the root causes of these battery fires.”

The OPSS is already undertaking a programme of enforcement and market surveillance activity. Last December, the Government published new statutory guidelines for businesses producing and distributing lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes. The guidelines state that such batteries must contain mechanisms capable of preventing thermal runaway for them to be considered as safe products.

The 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.

This latest activity follows on from the launch of Government’s ‘Buy Safe, Be Safe’ consumer information campaign, which launched in October last year to raise awareness of these risks, and provided safety advice for consumers purchasing e-bikes, e-scooters and lithium-ion batteries.

*Read the new research on lithium-ion battery safety

**Review the Government’s regulatory activity update

***Access the statutory guidelines on lithium-ion battery safety for e-bikes