UK e-bike legislation: Industry urges action to halt unsafe imports

Bicycle Association publishes UK Government action plan on e-bike fire safety

The Bicycle Association has released a formal action plan calling on the UK Government to intervene in response to the rise in fires linked to unsafe e-bike batteries.

According to the Bicycle Association, which represents the majority of the UK’s legitimate e-bike suppliers, its “Stop e-bike fires” plan was submitted to the Department for Transport, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Home Office.

The Association confirmed that the plan has also been shared with the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling & Walking Group Enquiry into e-bike safety.

Proposed measures to target unsafe e-bike products and practices

The action plan sets out three specific requests for the Government.

The Bicycle Association urged authorities to block unsafe imports, particularly those sold directly to consumers through online marketplaces.

It also called for regulatory reform in the food delivery gig economy, which the group said has created demand for illegal conversion kits and unsafe battery products.

Finally, the Association asked for legal changes to stop the sale of high-speed throttle-based vehicles and kits that fall outside the legal definition of an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle.

Fire risk and reputational harm from non-compliant e-bikes

Peter Eland, Technical and Policy Director at the Bicycle Association, said: “These tragic incidents must be stopped, and that requires decisive action which goes well beyond technical regulations.

“We need Ministers and Government departments, especially DfT, DBT and the Home Office, to work together to properly regulate both online marketplaces and gig economy food delivery operators, so that those sectors take real responsibility for the unsafe products supplied through their platforms or used to deliver their services.”

Eland added: “We also need Government action to take non-legal e-bikes off sale, and off the road.

“Legitimate, road legal e-bikes are known formally as EAPCs – Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles – and these are rigorously defined in law to be similar in performance to normal cycles.

“EAPCs from reputable suppliers are enjoyed safely by hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, and millions worldwide, for transport and leisure.

“In contrast, the throttle-controlled, high-speed vehicles which are often reported as “e-bikes” in connection with unsafe riding, or even use in crimes such as phone-snatching, are not legitimate e-bikes at all – they are illegal e-motorcycles.

“Government must close the legal loophole which allows such vehicles – and the conversion kits often used to create them – to be sold legally.

“Taking these products off the market would contribute to fire safety, road safety and help tackle the criminal use of high-speed unregistered e-motorbikes.”

Industry initiatives and need for cross-Government regulation

The Bicycle Association stated that the 20-page document highlights its support for the Office for Product Safety and Standards and outlines why action must extend beyond that agency.

The Association added that new measures such as the E-bike Safety Register and the E-bike Positive Retailer Pledge are in place to help identify safe products and suppliers.

These initiatives are supported by a wider public awareness campaign called “E-bike Positive”, which aims to direct consumers toward compliant and legally defined e-bikes.

The Association also noted its ongoing engagement with regulatory bodies and international standards organisations to raise technical benchmarks for battery and product safety.

Industry voices warn of long-term damage to legal e-bike sector

Steve Garidis, Executive Director of the Bicycle Association, said: “Even the safest, fully legal e-bikes are being seriously reputationally damaged by association with fires in unsafe products completely beyond the UK industry’s control.

“The legitimate e-bike category in the UK is at serious risk as a result.

“E-bike sales have fallen significantly in recent years, in stark contrast to the worldwide trend, as users face repeated headlines about e-bike dangers, and consequent blanket restrictions on access and insurance.”

Garidis added: “Our experts have been working on this issue intensively for years, working mostly behind the scenes with Government, regulators, fire and rescue services, the insurance sector, transport operators and many other stakeholders to explore possible solutions and to limit the damage to the reputable e-bike sector.

“We’ve summed up our understanding from years of work in this action plan.

“Now, on the three main points above we urge Government to act urgently – to prevent more tragic incidents and to safeguard tens of thousands of green jobs in the UK e-bike industry which otherwise has so much potential to grow, and to secure the future of this healthy, enjoyable and low-impact form of transport.

“Companies in the legitimate UK cycle industry take full legal responsibility for the safety of the products they supply.

“We think it’s high time that the online marketplaces and gig economy delivery companies take on that same responsibility, and that sales of non-road-legal e-bikes are banned.”

UK e-bike legislation: Industry urges action to halt unsafe imports: Summary

The Bicycle Association has released a national action plan on e-bike fire safety.

The plan was submitted to the Department for Transport, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Home Office.

It was also shared with the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling & Walking Group Enquiry into e-bike safety.

The plan asks the Government to block unsafe online imports.

It also calls for changes to the gig economy and restrictions on non-road-legal e-bikes.

Peter Eland of the Bicycle Association said the issue goes beyond technical regulations.

He said Government departments must work together to address the problem.

He warned that illegal vehicles are often confused with legitimate Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles.

Steve Garidis said that unsafe imports are harming public perception of legal e-bikes.

He said the Bicycle Association has developed multiple safety initiatives.

These include the E-bike Safety Register and a consumer awareness campaign.

Garidis said e-bike sales in the UK have declined because of safety concerns.

The Association urged immediate Government intervention to prevent more fires.

It said this would also protect jobs in the UK e-bike industry.

The Association confirmed its ongoing collaboration with regulators and fire services.

It said further updates would be shared through the Parliamentary Cycling & Walking Group.