Tag Archive: battery safety

  1. UK e-bike adoption affected by battery safety concerns, survey finds

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    Source: MicromobilityBiz

    A survey of 2,000 UK adults reveals strong interest in e-bike ownership and a willingness to opt for active travel rather than cars in many scenarios, but worries about battery fires are prominent and discouraging uptake.

    The survey, commissioned by BatteryIQ, reveals that 37% of respondents showed an interest in owning an e-bike, with a strong intention to replace shorter car journeys of under five miles (eight kilometres). 28% would use an e-bike for some sub-five mile journeys, 29% would replace all car trips with e-bike of this distance, and 28% would not only replace journeys under five miles, but some longer ones too.

    Although the risk of battery fires is rare in high-quality products, there are regular headlines on the topic of e-bike battery fires where the cause is low-quality products or unregulated systems. Awareness of such risks is high among the survey respondents; 75% are aware that e-bike batteries can cause fires, and 48% say headlines on this topic would be a serious deterrent to them owning an e-bike, and a further 33% would be put off to some extent.

    Survey respondents were asked about the perceived risks of e-bike use; 48% selected battery fires, followed by the more general cycling concerns of traffic on roads at 38%, and a lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure at 23%.

    Improved battery safety measures could bolster the confidence of potential e-bike owners. 51% would pay more than £50 (€58) extra for a battery that presents a significantly lower fire risk, and 34% would find reassurance by battery safety monitoring technology.

    E-bike pricing

    Retail prices of e-bikes may also present a barrier to wider adoption. There is is something of a gap between expectations and reality; 31% expect a good-quality e-bike to cost less than £1,000 (€1,153), 22% expect a price between £1,000-£2,000 (€1,153-€2,306), while 12% expect a price above £2,000. 35% of respondents said they did not know how much a good quality e-bike should cost.

    How to encourage uptake?

    The survey results suggest an interest in e-bikes, but that worries around battery safety present an obstacle. These concerns could be addressed through improved technology and clearer communication to help close the knowledge gap in the identification of safe, reputable products.

    Nick Bailey, the founder of battery-monitoring technology provider BatteryIQ, said “e-bike batteries involved in fires are generally low-cost, low-quality products lacking basic safety protection, or are bodged-together DIY batteries. Despite fires in good-quality batteries being rare, fears about them are very real and it’s slowing down a major shift toward cleaner, healthier transport. This research shows there is high demand for e-mobility in the UK, but that consumers want reassurance, transparency, and smarter safety technology. BatteryIQ gives riders confidence by monitoring battery health in real time and alerting them to issues before they become dangerous.”

  2. Online Workshop: “Fire Safety of Light Electric Vehicles”

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    You are invited to the IEA EV TCP Task49 online workshop on “Fire Safety of Light Electric Vehicles”, taking place on 28 April 2026 from 15:00 to 17:00 CET. This session will explore key fire safety challenges related to light electric vehicles such as e-bikes and e-scooters. Experts will present on topics including European regulations, real-world fire risks, and recent experimental research. 

    One of the speakers is LEVA-EU’s Technical Director, Bram Rotthier, who will talk about technical laws and regulations linked to battery fire safety of light electric vehicles.

    The programme also covers fire safety in public transport and indoor bike parking facilities. In addition, practical solutions for safe charging and storage of lithium-ion batteries will be discussed. The workshop is aimed at policymakers, industry professionals, and researchers interested in improving safety and trust in light electric vehicles.

    The full programme and the registration button are here: Register now

  3. Industry Poll on the Use of Flame Retardants in Light Electric Vehicle Batteries

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    IEC TC 21 – Joint Working Group 84, responsible for drafting an international safety standard for batteries used in Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs), is organising a short poll regarding the current use of flame retardants in LEV batteries. The objective of this poll is to better understand current industrial practices related to fire safety measures, in order to support technically sound and realistic standardisation work and safety requirements. This is a strong call to all companies, organisations and experts who hold relevant information on this topic to complete the poll below and forward it to: francois.rummens@ceb-bec.be. He’s responsible for this poll on behalf of IEC TC 21 JWG 84.

    The results of this poll will be kept strictly confidential and will be reported to the IEC TC 21 JWG 84 experts only in an anonymized and aggregated form. No company names or identifiable information will be disclosed.

    IEC TC 21 JWG 84 kindly asks you to provide, where applicable and according to your organization knowledge, answers to the following questions:

    • Use of flame retardants in LEV batteries

    ◦ Battery enclosure / housing: ☐ Yes ☐ No

    ◦ Accessories, adhesives, potting or bonding materials: ☐ Yes ☐ No

    ◦ Liners, separators, wrapping foils or insulation layers: ☐ Yes ☐ No

    • Fire safety standard(s) or requirement(s) achieved

    (e.g. use of materials rated UL 94 V-0 @ 1.6 mm or equivalent)

    – Please specify and comment if relevant.

    • Fire hazard is addressed (fire scenario)

    – Please specify and comment if relevant.

    • Generic type(s) of polymer

    (e.g. PP, PC, PA 6 …, plasticized PVC wrapping … PE based (copolymer) hot-melt adhesive …)

    ◦ Battery enclosure / housing:

    ◦ Accessories, adhesives, potting or bonding materials:

    ◦ Liners, separators, wrapping foils or insulation layers:

    – Please specify and comment if relevant.

    • Generic type(s) of flame retardant used

    (e.g. metal hydroxides, brominated systems, phosphorus-based systems, intumescent compounds and/or coatings, Sb₂O₃ or other synergists)

    ◦ Battery enclosure / housing:

    ◦ Accessories, adhesives, potting or bonding materials:

    ◦ Liners, separators, wrapping foils or insulation layers:

    ◦ Printed circuit

    – Please specify and comment if relevant.

    • Please comment also on the use of cells with “flame retarded” modified electrolyte (phosphor, fluorine, … based chemistry).

    • Impact of the flame retardants used on polymers recyclability

    – Please comment, if assessed or known.

    • Documentation on safe charging and storage of battery in intended use

    – Do you specify in your documentation do and don’t related to safe charging and storage of the battery

    Feel free to provide François Rummens, francois.rummens@ceb-bec.be, (or forward the e-mail to) contacts outside your company or organization if you believe they may provide useful insight on the topic.

    Thank you in advance for your valuable contribution to this standardisation effort!

  4. Greenway prepares for China’s New E-Bike Safety Standard

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    Source: Greenway Battery

    The LEVA-EU member is ready for China’s newly implemented E-Bike Safety Standard with their new compliant battery.

    On December 1, 2025, China officially banned the sale of all e-bikes built to the older national standard, implementing the updated mandatory Safety Technical Specifications for Electric Bicycles. Any e-bike sold in China must now carry a valid China Compulsory Certificate (CCC) under this brand-new standard – older certificates are invalid.

    These new rules go far beyond what most countries require. They tighten fire-resistance requirements, restrict plastic components to 5.5% of total weight, cap vehicle weight, and mandate improved electrical safety. Enhanced anti-tampering technologies for battery packs, controllers, and speed limiters curb illegal modifications at the source.

    Working hand-in-hand with GB 43854-2024 – one of the world’s toughest lithium-ion battery standards (in place since October 2024 in China) – the regulations require mandatory over-charge protection, thermal abuse tests, puncture tests, and ban repurposed or second-hand cells, which have been a major cause of past fires. Greenway’s new 4828 lithium battery offers lightweight compliance, all-weather performance and maximum safety.

    Lightweight compliance: Aerospace-grade magnesium alloy housing weighs just 9.6kg, helping meet strict weight requirements while enhancing fire resistance. Double-handle design enables flexible battery positioning.

    All-weather performance: Charges at -10℃, discharges at -20℃, with 70km+ range for daily commuting and 5+ year lifespan that reduces total cost of ownership.

    Maximum safety: GB 43854-2024 certified, passing nail puncture, drop, and water immersion tests. Greenway’s smart BMS continuously monitors battery parameters and protects against misuse and safety issues.

    Overall, Greenway’s 4828 battery delivers on both the compliance and performance that e-mobility in China demands.

  5. Washington D.C. introduces legislation on e-bike battery safety standards

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    Source: Charles Allen

    A new bill has been introduced in Washington, D.C., to implement mandatory fire safety standards for e-bike and scooter batteries.

    The proposed Micromobility Fire Safety Standards Act of 2025 is intended to address fire hazards associated with low-quality batteries. From November 2018 to March 2025, riders in the District collectively travelled more than 38 million miles using e-bikes and scooters. The legislation seeks to regulate battery sales both in physical stores and online to enhance consumer safety.

    LEVA-EU’s view

    LEVA-EU thinks that it is important to align all battery rules such as with the EU’s Battery Regulation in order to minimize compliance burden for LEV manufacturers.

  6. UK parliament launches inquiry into e-bike safety and gig economy practices

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    Source: Cycling Electric

    The UK Parliament is initiating an inquiry into e-bike safety, with particular attention given to the role of the gig economy in encouraging the modification of electric bikes and the use of potentially hazardous upgrade kits that may pose thermal risks.

    The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking (APPGCW) is now soliciting evidence from a range of stakeholders. These include industry professionals, delivery riders with relevant experience, advocacy organisations, policy experts, emergency services, and other concerned parties.

    Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the APPGCW, noted the potential of e-bikes to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable transport system. However, he expressed concern that this potential could be compromised by the proliferation of low-quality imported conversion kits. He highlighted the pressures experienced by gig economy workers, who may resort to using unregulated or unsafe equipment to enhance their earnings. In some cases, these products may constitute illegally modified motorcycles rather than compliant e-bikes, which could harm the reputation of legitimate e-bike manufacturers.

    Public perception has also been affected by media reports that may have misrepresented the root causes of fire risks associated with electric bikes. This has led to actions such as landlords and building managers restricting e-bike storage and use, and Transport for London banning e-bikes from its services. Additionally, some insurers have begun to deny coverage to bike shops, despite most shops not selling the types of kits linked to thermal incidents. This has raised concerns about the impact on independent retailers, which have not been responsible for distributing dangerous components.

    Specialist e-bike insurers have indicated that, based on their data, e-bike fire risks are minimal, suggesting that media narratives may have contributed disproportionately to public alarm.

    The inquiry aims to clarify the scope of the issue, explore its implications for the cycling industry and public safety, and identify practical responses. It also presents an opportunity to reassess public understanding of electric bikes amid industry challenges that have included shop closures and job losses.

  7. China introduces world’s first EV battery safety law requiring fire prevention

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    Source: Cycling Electric

    China has passed a new electric vehicle (EV) battery safety regulation, becoming the first country to mandate that battery packs must not catch fire or explode, even in the event of internal thermal runaway.

    Effective from mid-2026, this regulation will require EV manufacturers to meet significantly enhanced safety standards. Currently, EV manufacturers are required to include warning systems that alert users to thermal incidents at least five minutes before they become dangerous. This is typically achieved through extensive sensor systems that detect abnormalities and trigger automatic shutdowns or alerts.

    Under the new regulation, manufacturers must now demonstrate that battery packs will not ignite, explode, or release smoke into vehicle cabins under a variety of stress conditions. The testing requirements include a new safety evaluation following a fast-charging cycle, as well as an external short-circuit test after 300 fast-charging cycles – neither of which may result in fire or explosion.

    Wider e-mobility industry implications

    Although the regulation is primarily targeted at electric cars, it applies to all electric vehicles, raising potential implications for the broader e-mobility sector, including e-bikes. The new standard, GB38031-2025, titled Safety Requirements for Power Batteries of Electric Vehicles, may influence battery suppliers and technologies across related industries due to shared components and manufacturing practices.

    While the regulation may lead to increased compliance costs, particularly challenging for smaller or mid-sized suppliers, it is expected that larger battery manufacturers, many of which already supply reputable e-bike brands, will be able to adapt. Many companies in the bicycle industry have already been voluntarily improving battery safety standards.

    Research from UK testing facilities has indicated a clear relationship between product cost and adherence to safety standards. For the bicycle industry, failure to adopt robust safety practices may present significant risks, particularly as incidents involving poorly regulated battery products continue to attract public and regulatory scrutiny.

    Recent restrictions by transport operators and property managers have often followed media coverage of e-bike battery fires. However, investigations frequently trace such incidents to aftermarket conversion kits, which are commonly sold directly to consumers without rigorous safety oversight, rather than to mass-produced e-bikes from established brands.

    In parallel, China is advancing the adoption of sodium-ion battery technology, which is inherently non-toxic and non-flammable, reducing the risk of thermal incidents. While sodium-ion batteries are currently less energy-dense and larger than their lithium-ion counterparts, they are gaining traction in applications where size and weight are less critical, such as cargo bikes. For instance, AKKU Energie has supplied Deutsche Post with sodium-ion batteries for its delivery fleet.

    Continued advancements in sodium-ion battery performance suggest increasing viability in a wider range of electric vehicles. As China expands its use of this chemistry, it may influence global battery technology trends.