E-bike power may double despite deadly threat from battery fires
Government proposal aimed at boosting uptake despite widespread concerns over ‘huge safety risk’
Gareth Corfield29 February 2024 • 6:09pm
3
Sofia Duarte died in her flat when the lithium-ion batteries on her e-bike (pictured) ignited CREDIT: UNPIXS
Electric bike motors would double in power under government plans, despite fears the move risks causing potentially lethal fires.
A Department for Transport (DfT) consultation has proposed doubling the permitted power limit for electric bike motors to 500 watts, up from the current level of 250 watts.
It is part of plans to encourage a wider uptake of so-called active travel by improving e-bikes’ performance and boosting their uptake among consumers and businesses, such as food delivery companies.
Officials say increasing the power will encourage more couriers and people with mobility issues to use bikes instead of vans or cars, while reducing the effort needed to pedal – especially uphill.
Sofia Duarte, 21, died after leaving her e-bike charging in a stairwell of her flat on the Old Kent Road CREDIT: UNPIXS
Other proposals in the consultation include relaxing an existing rule which stipulates that e-bike motors must only provide assistance when the user is pedalling.
While the maximum speed of e-bikes would remain capped at 15.5mph under the plans, official documents reveal that increasing the maximum power of motors could allow bikes that have been “tampered with” to achieve higher speeds.
The consultation documents does warn that “there may be a risk of more severe battery fires from more powerful e-cycles”, which could also “be exacerbated by tampering”.
The proposed plans have triggered concerns among experts who say the changes risk blurring the lines between e-bikes and mopeds, while increasing the risk of deadly fires.
It comes just days after a London coroner’s court heard that a woman died in a fire caused by an e-bike battery.
Sofia Duarte, 21, died in a blaze at her flat on Old Kent Road, in South East London, on Jan 1, 2023.
Southwark coroner’s court heard on Monday that a lithium-ion battery from an e-bike in the stairwell of a block of flats had ignited while being charged.
Ms Duarte succumbed to burns and smoke inhalation while trying to escape. The cause of the initial battery fire could not be determined, the inquest heard.
Sarah McMonagle, director of external affairs at charity Cycling UK, said: “These proposals present a huge safety risk to pedestrians and others who cycle.
Transport for London has banned e-bikes and e-scooters from their network CREDIT: David Gee / Alamy Stock Photo
“The dramatically increased power would mean faster acceleration and much heavier bikes, which we’re really concerned about.
“E-cycles with no pedal requirement would also reduce the health benefits of e-cycling – in essence, they would blur the line between e-bikes and electric motorbikes.”
James Metcalfe, founder of Volt E-Bikes, a manufacturer, said: “Plans to alter the power output will attract unsafe batteries and potentially encourage users to tamper with them.”
A spokesman for the charity Electrical Safety First added that the fire risk from e-bike batteries was already high.
“Substandard e-bikes are already causing devastating fires across the country and it is concerning that the Government is consulting on permitting an increase in their power without first addressing the critical safety concerns we have raised,” he said.
Six hand grenades
“At present, a fully charged e-bike battery can release a similar amount of stored energy to six hand grenades if the device fails. We need tighter regulation to ensure e-bikes and their batteries are safe before they come onto the market.”
It is not a legal requirement to wear a helmet while riding an e-bike, nor do riders need to obtain a compulsory basic training certificate – the legal requirement for moped and low-powered motorcycle users.
Transport for London banned e-bikes from trains and buses in the capital in 2021, after a spate of fires from the machines’ lithium-ion batteries.
Such fires are harder to extinguish because of the batteries’ tendency to re-ignite after flames are damped down.
A DfT spokesman said: “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.”
Government proposal aimed at boosting uptake despite widespread concerns over ‘huge safety risk’
Gareth Corfield29 February 2024 • 6:09pm
3
Sofia Duarte died in her flat when the lithium-ion batteries on her e-bike (pictured) ignited CREDIT: UNPIXS
Electric bike motors would double in power under government plans, despite fears the move risks causing potentially lethal fires.
A Department for Transport (DfT) consultation has proposed doubling the permitted power limit for electric bike motors to 500 watts, up from the current level of 250 watts.
It is part of plans to encourage a wider uptake of so-called active travel by improving e-bikes’ performance and boosting their uptake among consumers and businesses, such as food delivery companies.
Officials say increasing the power will encourage more couriers and people with mobility issues to use bikes instead of vans or cars, while reducing the effort needed to pedal – especially uphill.
Sofia Duarte, 21, died after leaving her e-bike charging in a stairwell of her flat on the Old Kent Road CREDIT: UNPIXS
Other proposals in the consultation include relaxing an existing rule which stipulates that e-bike motors must only provide assistance when the user is pedalling.
While the maximum speed of e-bikes would remain capped at 15.5mph under the plans, official documents reveal that increasing the maximum power of motors could allow bikes that have been “tampered with” to achieve higher speeds.
The consultation documents does warn that “there may be a risk of more severe battery fires from more powerful e-cycles”, which could also “be exacerbated by tampering”.
The proposed plans have triggered concerns among experts who say the changes risk blurring the lines between e-bikes and mopeds, while increasing the risk of deadly fires.
It comes just days after a London coroner’s court heard that a woman died in a fire caused by an e-bike battery.
Sofia Duarte, 21, died in a blaze at her flat on Old Kent Road, in South East London, on Jan 1, 2023.
Southwark coroner’s court heard on Monday that a lithium-ion battery from an e-bike in the stairwell of a block of flats had ignited while being charged.
Ms Duarte succumbed to burns and smoke inhalation while trying to escape. The cause of the initial battery fire could not be determined, the inquest heard.
Sarah McMonagle, director of external affairs at charity Cycling UK, said: “These proposals present a huge safety risk to pedestrians and others who cycle.
Transport for London has banned e-bikes and e-scooters from their network CREDIT: David Gee / Alamy Stock Photo
“The dramatically increased power would mean faster acceleration and much heavier bikes, which we’re really concerned about.
“E-cycles with no pedal requirement would also reduce the health benefits of e-cycling – in essence, they would blur the line between e-bikes and electric motorbikes.”
James Metcalfe, founder of Volt E-Bikes, a manufacturer, said: “Plans to alter the power output will attract unsafe batteries and potentially encourage users to tamper with them.”
A spokesman for the charity Electrical Safety First added that the fire risk from e-bike batteries was already high.
“Substandard e-bikes are already causing devastating fires across the country and it is concerning that the Government is consulting on permitting an increase in their power without first addressing the critical safety concerns we have raised,” he said.
Six hand grenades
“At present, a fully charged e-bike battery can release a similar amount of stored energy to six hand grenades if the device fails. We need tighter regulation to ensure e-bikes and their batteries are safe before they come onto the market.”
It is not a legal requirement to wear a helmet while riding an e-bike, nor do riders need to obtain a compulsory basic training certificate – the legal requirement for moped and low-powered motorcycle users.
Transport for London banned e-bikes from trains and buses in the capital in 2021, after a spate of fires from the machines’ lithium-ion batteries.
Such fires are harder to extinguish because of the batteries’ tendency to re-ignite after flames are damped down.
A DfT spokesman said: “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.”
