An inquiry has been launched into electric bike safety in the UK with a particular focus on 'dangerous' ebike conversion kits.
This week, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking (APPGCW) released a call for evidence as part of the inquiry, which will also consider gig economy work and delivery practices.
The group seeks to ensure the UK can realise “the benefits of cleaner, healthier transport without compromising on public safety”.
There has been a rapid rise in ebike adoption across Europe in contrast to the slow pickup in the UK. Germany recorded 2.1m ebike sales in 2023, but there were only 146,000 ebikes sold in the UK, according to the APPGCW.
MP Fabian Hamiltion, chair of the APPGCW, says: “Ebikes have enormous potential to support a cleaner, fairer transport future, but that future is at risk if we fail to address emerging issues, especially from low-quality imported upgrade kits.”
The inquiry comes amid growing concern around unsafe and low-quality ebikes and conversion kits, often purchased online and used by delivery riders who face challenging time demands and low wages.
“We’re especially concerned about the pressures faced by gig economy riders, who may be pushed towards unsafe and potentially illegal products in order to increase their income,” says Hamilton.
Last year, Deliveroo and Uber Eats riders went on strike to demand better pay and improved working conditions.
News of the inquiry comes after a long period of debate surrounding ebikes in the UK.
Last month, Transport for London (TfL) banned non-folding ebikes on most of its network. TfL made the decision after a review to ensure the safety of its staff and customers. The decision came after members of the ASLEF union said they were considering balloting for strike action over ebikes being allowed on the London Underground.
In January, the Department for Transport (DfT) also dropped plans to double ebike motor power amid safety concerns. The DfT launched a public consultation last year to seek opinions on the maximum power of ebikes to encourage their adoption.
However, respondents to the consultation were not in favour. “While the difference between the overall number of respondents being in favour and those not in favour was relatively small, this was not the case with main stakeholder organisations, with the vast majority opposing the proposals,” the DfT said at the time.
The DfT’s consultation also met with caution when launched. The Bicycle Association said the increase in motor power could drive the purchase of poorly regulated ebike conversion kits, and noted “evidence increasingly confirms” imported ebike conversion kits are “responsible for very many of the recent tragic battery fire incidents”.
A Freedom of Information request by the Guardian found fires caused by e-scooters and ebikes had injured at least 190 people and killed eight as of May 2023.
Electrical Safety First, the UK’s leading charity on electrical safety, says there are three main issues that contribute to ebike and e-scotter battery failure: electrical; mechanical; and thermal.
In 2022, the charity identified nearly 60 listings by third-party sellers across four of the biggest online marketplaces. These failed to meet the UK plug standard, and many even lacked a fuse.
Last year, eBay banned ebike sales by private sellers over fire fears.
This followed a report that found 23 per cent of UK adults were put off buying an ebike by the potential risk of battery fires.
