The UK government has dropped its plans to double electric bike motor power.
Under proposals put forward by the Conservatives, the continuous maximum power level of ebike motors would have increased from 250W to 500W.
The Department for Transport (DfT) launched a public consultation a year ago to seek opinions on the maximum power of electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) to encourage greater adoption of electric bicycles by individuals and businesses.
But the proposals were met with concern. Campaigners cited a potential increase in fires linked to ebikes and the risk to other road users posed by more powerful bikes.
Now the government has dropped its plans to double ebike motor power after most of the 2,121 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 says.
According to the DfT, the stakeholder organisations included 12 local authorities, alongside 45 from affected organisations, such as police and fire services, active travel organisations and suppliers of EAPCs.
It has been suggested producers of electric cargo bikes and logistics companies who rely on these bikes for deliveries could have benefitted from the increase in motor power. But the DfT says: “[W]hile we note the potential benefits to some individuals and organisations, there was a significant lack of evidence provided in response to the consultation to substantiate this.”
The plans, which were part of the previous government’s Smart Regulation programme, and focused on reducing regulatory burdens and driving economic growth, also proposed allowing ‘twist and go’ throttle assistance.
The plans said throttles could enable disabled people to use EAPCs as a mobility aid, assist older or less physically fit users and make it easier for e-cargo bike riders to transport goods.
However, campaigners and those in the industry suggested that introducing throttles could lead to greater regulation and consequently make access to electrified transport harder.
Simon Bowkett, interim head of policy and public affairs at Cycling UK, said: “We’re pleased the government is dropping plans to increase maximum e-cycle power and allow twist-and-go e-cycles that haven’t been type-approved. The proposed changes would have increased risks for other cyclists and pedestrians and blurred the line between cycles and motorcycles, while also incentivising less healthy ways to travel.”
A spokesperson for Electrical Safety First said: “We welcome the new [Labour] Government’s announcement. The priority should be the need to address the devastating fires being caused by substandard batteries in both bikes and scooters, which continue to claim lives.”
Suggested steps to address these ebike fires could be seen in a government report published this week.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published research into lithium-ion battery fire safety authored by Warwick Manufacturing Group.
The report recognises the difference in safety between reputable ebikes and unsafe scooters and ebike conversion kits.
Ebike data was used to ascertain how many incidents involved conversion kits compared to Original Equipment Manufacturers. Of the 56 per cent of incidents where this could be ascertained, more than three quarters were conversion kits.
The report also highlights the supply of unsafe batteries via online marketplaces and backs calls from the industry to address the demand of high-risk products in the gig economy, where economic pressure leads riders to seek out high-risk conversion kits.
The Bicycle Association, which contributed to the report, says reputable companies devote considerable resources to ensuring ebike safety, so they “welcome the focus in the report on ensuring that a level playing field is established and enforced for e-bike and e-scooter batteries.
“We hope that swift Government action will help address the supply (especially from overseas and via online marketplaces) of unsafe products, as well as the demand for such items (especially in the 'gig economy' sector).”
Folding bicycle manufacturer Brompton says: “If the industry continues to work together to ensure the safety of riders then the future of electric bikes is bright and we can increase the amount of people cycling for generations to come.”
