All-Party Parliamentary Group warns of ‘fake e-bike’ fire safety risk

Photograph: Honor Elliott

The detailed report follows on from an inquiry that accepted both written and oral evidence from Fire and Rescue Services, the police service, industry bodies, gig economy workers, academics and regulators. The document finds that the UK’s lack of regulation and enforcement around e-bike safety is putting lives at risk, particularly so among delivery riders operating in low-paid, high-pressure environments.

During the inquiry, the All-Party Parliamentary Group was able to easily find e-bikes sold by major online retailers with 40 mph speeds described as being ‘for city commutes’ and a 2,000 W bike with a throttle pictured being used on city streets. Both are illegal.

Another search found an unsafe charger with an unfused clover leaf plug and multiple charging cables supplied, both of which are considered a significant fire risk by experts.

Key issues identified

Among the key issues identified in the report entitled ‘Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal e-Bikes’ are the following:

*a surge in battery fires caused by unregulated e-bike conversion kits, low-cost batteries and poor-quality imports

*exploitation of gig economy riders, who are incentivised to use faster (and often illegal) bikes to meet delivery targets

*online marketplaces selling unsafe products with little or no oversight, enforcement or legal liability

*confusion for landlords, insurers and transport operators, in turn leading to blanket bans that affect users of legitimate e-bikes

Urgent recommendations

The report makes urgent recommendations:

*calling on online retailers to immediately withdraw unsafe e-bike items from sale

*making online marketplaces legally accountable for unsafe listings

*working to create a Government-backed e-bike safety kitemark in order to enable transport authorities and insurance companies alike to confidently lift e-bike bans

*reinstating ‘worker’ status for gig economy riders to guarantee their rights and protections

*ending the Road-Legal Loophole that allows illegal vehicles to be sold under the guise of off-road use

*enforcing compliance from delivery platforms

*requiring delivery companies to run real-time compliance checks on the bikes used by couriers

*equipping the police with new and simpler powers to seize unsafe e-bikes

*introducing a scrappage scheme for dangerous bikes used by couriers with funding from delivery companies

Hiding in plain sight

Fabian Hamilton MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking, said: “This is a crisis hiding in plain sight. While responsible cycling businesses continue to meet high safety standards, the rise of illegal and unsafe e-bikes, often bought online and used in the gig economy, has created serious risks for riders, the public and the future of active travel.”

Hamilton concluded: “We need urgent action from Government and industry to stop unsafe products from entering the UK and to protect those being exploited while they’re simply trying to earn a living.”

The report highlights the need for a cross-departmental response and urges Government to act decisively through an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill and take on board the report’s recommendations for the upcoming Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to close dangerous loopholes, improve enforcement capacity and support the shift towards safe and sustainable transport.

*View the full report online at https://appgcw.org/resources/inquiries/unregulated-and-unsafe-the-threat-of-illegal-e-bikes/