New Statutory Guidelines For E-Bike Batteries

Official figures show that in 2023, 10 fatalities and almost 200 fires were recorded involving e-bikes and e-scooters.

 

A particular issue is thermal runaway; this happens when the temperature of individual cells within a battery reaches a point where chemical reactions occur, generating heat faster than it can be dissipated. This creates gas within the cell, causing the cell casing to rupture, releasing flammable and potentially toxic gases, potentially increasing the temperature of adjacent cells within the battery pack, resulting in additional cells entering thermal runaway.

 

This effect can cascade through the battery, resulting in gases igniting, causing a fire that can develop rapidly and become extremely volatile, with the potential to spread to the surrounding environment.

 

The General Product Safety Regulations place duties on the producers to ensure that no product is placed on the market unless it is safe and on distributors to not supply a product that they know, or that they should have presumed, to be a dangerous product.

 

The regulations allow for product safety guidelines to be established, setting out the standards that products should meet to be considered safe.

 

The government recently published new statutory guidelines covering lithium-ion battery safety for e-bikes, including e-bike conversion kits. The guidelines set out key requirements for battery design, physical construction, and battery protective systems to guard against thermal runaway.

 

Also included are requirements to provide relevant information with battery packs, requirements for producers to ensure products are safe, and for distributors, to ensure that only safe products are supplied.

 

The full guidelines can be found on the Gov.UK website.

 

Some key advice for users to follow when considering e-bikes and e-scooters includes:

Charging:

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Always unplug the charger when not in use
• Don’t leave batteries unattended while charging
• Use the manufacturer-approved charger for the product and ensure the charger is in good condition prior to use
• Do not cover chargers or batteries when charging
• Do not charge or store equipment and batteries near flammable or combustible materials
• Check the manufacturer’s instructions for charging times and ensure that batteries are not overcharged
• Do not overload sockets
• Take extra care when charging equipment that has not been charged for a while
• In the event of a fire, leave and call 999. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire yourself

 

Storage:

• Do not block escape routes when charging or storing equipment and batteries
• Store equipment and batteries in a cool place
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the storage of equipment and batteries

 

Purchasing equipment, batteries, and chargers:

• Only purchase equipment from reputable suppliers
• Do not purchase products which do not meet the relevant British or European standards
• Register purchased products with the manufacturer to validate warranties. This makes it easier to receive alerts regarding safety or recalls
• Check if products are subject to a recall

 

Damage and disposal:

• If you suspect a battery is damaged, ensure it is replaced and is not used or charged until it has been confirmed that it is not damaged
• Do not dispose of batteries in a normal bin as they can cause fires when crushed. Disposal information should be included in the manufacturer’s instructions

 

If you have any questions or would like support with managing issues at your workplace, please speak to your usual contact or get in touch using the form below.