Frank Bertie, Managing Director at NAPIT, welcomes the new Government campaign to raise awareness around the safe purchasing, use and charging of e-bikes and e-scooters.
NAPIT supports the new Government safety campaign addressing the dangers of buying faulty and unsafe electric bikes, electric scooters and components. The Department for Business and Trade has launched the “Buy Safe, Be Safe” campaign on Thursday (October 24).
The campaign urges consumers to buy safe e-bikes and e-scooters and avoid rogue online sellers, encourages them to only buy safe products from reputable sellers, only replace items with products recommended by the manufacturer and finally to seek professional help when converting or repairing e-bikes and e-scooters.
Purchasing unsafe products online can pose a significant danger to consumers and risk of causing a fire. In 2023 there was a fire from a lithium battery in an e-bike or e-scooter every two days in London.
According to the London Fire Brigade, many of these fires are caused by parts incompatible with e-bikes and e-scooters, as well as the purchase of defective or poorly manufactured parts sold by rogue online sellers.
We at NAPIT want to highlight that it is essential consumers have access to resources and are aware of the risks associated with e-bikes and e-scooters.
It is critical that more is done to reduce the number of fatalities, injuries and fires that are caused by e-bikes and e-scooters. The importance of sharing information and conveying the dangers associated with e-bikes and e-scooters cannot be understated. We encourage NAPIT members, other stakeholders and organisations to support the new government campaign to ensure consumer safety.
Take steps to reduce the risk of fires
If you own an e-bike or e-scooter, or are thinking about buying one, you should follow the steps below so you can enjoy these products safely and reduce the risk of fires.
Step 1: Buying an e-bike or e-scooter
- Do your research: Buy your e-bike or e-scooter from trusted sellers and look at reviews first. Products sold to UK consumers must meet UK safety laws: check whether the seller provides information about how they comply.
- Compliance marks: Look for the UKCA or CE mark on e-bikes and e-scooters which is required by UK product safety regulations.
Step 2: Looking after your e-bike or e-scooter
- Follow the instructions and guidelines: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for storage, charging, and maintenance. If instructions are missing, check the manufacturer’s website for guidance. Always follow the safety and usage instructions provided.
- Charge safely: Charge your battery in a safe location that does not block fire escape routes or exits. Do not cover the charger or battery. Charge when you are awake and present, not when you are asleep or away from home. Unplug once the battery is fully charged.
- Check compatibility: Make sure your charger is suitable for your battery, as not all e-bike or e-scooter batteries and chargers are safe when used together. Connecting the wrong charger to a battery can pose serious fire risks.
Step 3: Making changes to your e-bike or e-scooter
- Converting a bike to an e-bike: Only use a competent professional to convert a pedal bike to an e-bike.
- Use manufacturer recommended replacement parts: Only use manufacturer recommended e-bike and e-scooter replacement parts, chargers, and batteries.
- Repairs: If you need to repair your e-bike or e-scooter, always get a professional to carry out the work.
- Don’t tamper with the battery: Never attempt to modify or tamper with your battery.
Read the ‘Buy Safe, Be Safe’ campaign here
See the London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe campaign here for further information on buying safely, how to store your product safely and best practice for charging.