Plan to double energy of e-bikes sparks fireplace fears

A authorities plan to double the utmost authorized energy of e-bikes has drawn warnings that it might improve the danger of extreme battery fires and different accidents.

The Department for Transport is consulting on the proposals which might additionally permit e-bikes that do not require pedalling to journey a lot sooner.

The authorities mentioned it wished to make driving e-bikes extra enticing.

But critics mentioned the plans posed security dangers.

There had been extra fires attributable to e-bikes and e-scooters in London in 2023 than in any earlier yr.

London Fire Brigade mentioned it supported inexperienced transport however described lithium battery fires as “London’s fastest growing fire trend.”

“The risk of more severe battery fires – because of these more powerful models – which the consultation does highlight, is a significant concern”, mentioned Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley.

Campaign group Electrical Safety First mentioned: “Substandard e-bike batteries are already causing devastating fires across the country.”

MPs ought to concentrate on making present batteries secure, it mentioned.

Currently the motors of e-bikes – or electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) as they’re formally identified – should not exceed 250 watts.

The authorities needs to extend that to 500 watts in England, Scotland and Wales.

It can be consulting on growing the highest velocity that customers on e-bikes with throttles can journey, to fifteen.5mph up from 3.73mph in the intervening time.

In its session doc, the federal government acknowledged that larger speeds and extra energy might improve street dangers, together with collisions.

It mentioned it might additionally make battery fires extra extreme, with dangers heightened by tampering.

However, it mentioned having larger energy may additionally scale back the inducement for individuals to tamper with their bikes – one of many points contributing to security issues with e-bikes in the intervening time.

The authorities mentioned boosting e-bike energy may additionally encourage extra supply bikes, chopping congestion and air air pollution, whereas making rides simpler and extra engaging to customers.

But Volt, which makes e-bikes, mentioned the plan to spice up the facility would “attract unsafe batteries and potentially encourage users to tamper with them”.

Volt managing director James Metcalfe mentioned lawmakers had been “failing to understand what our industry truly needs”.

“It is our infrastructure that is lagging behind, not the technology in e-bikes,” he mentioned. “Ministers need to take action to build more cycle lanes and increase incentives for sustainable transport.”

Campaign group Cycling UK mentioned the primary purpose extra individuals do not cycle was that they do not really feel secure on the roads.

It warned that the proposals offered “a huge safety risk to pedestrians and others who cycle”.

“The dramatically increased power would mean faster acceleration and much heavier bikes, which we’re really concerned about,” mentioned Cycling UK’s director of exterior affairs, Sarah McMonagle.

She mentioned the federal government ought to put money into higher biking infrastructure, and provides monetary help to individuals who want it for bikes.

Three individuals died in London final yr in fires thought to have been attributable to e-bike lithium batteries.

The threat of e-bike fires has been within the highlight in latest weeks, with one supply rider telling the BBC that, as a result of excessive value of dependable e-bikes, individuals will purchase “cheaper, less reliable and often dangerous batteries”.

The Bicycle Association, which represents the UK cycle business, mentioned it was involved the proposals might legitimise the method of tampering with e-bikes to spice up their energy – with the next potential energy resulting in “possibly very serious fire safety consequences”.

It mentioned it additionally feared the modifications might result in requires “moped-like” rules for the sector – resembling necessary insurance coverage, registration and helmets – which which might make e-bikes “significantly less attractive” to individuals.

The authorities mentioned it will use any suggestions it acquired by means of session responses to think about the right way to mitigate dangers.

A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “We’re launching this consultation to gather views on how we can increase power safely for certain users, including those with mobility issues and e-cargo bike operators. Safety is always at the heart of any decisions made around e-bikes and the results of the consultation will be published followings its closure.”

The session will finish on 25 April 2024.