Why the UK risks getting burned on e-bike battery safety

As e-bike sales soar in Britain, it’s increasingly clear that alongside the two-wheeled freedom - we’re importing some dodgy tech. While countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands are racing ahead with regulation, safety standards, and support for safer e-bikes, the UK remains worryingly behind.

The problem? A report this week sets out a number or issues, but in a nutshell, it's substandard batteries and the tech designed to manage them.

Batteries behaving badly

We are all agreed that e-bikes are brilliant. They flatten hills, extend rides, and for many, offer an affordable, low-carbon alternative to driving. But behind the headlines of booming sales lies a hidden hazard: substandard lithium-ion batteries that can present a fire risk.

The issue isn’t with factory-built e-bikes from reputable brands. It’s conversion kits and cheap imports - batteries that aren’t tested, that don’t meet safety standards, or that pair with incompatible chargers and dodgy Battery Management Systems (BMS). It’s not always clear what you’re buying, and there’s little to stop unsafe kits being sold in the UK today.

And that’s a problem - because while the majority of batteries are perfectly safe when used as intended, the tiny minority that aren’t can be dangerous.

A safer standard? Just ask the neighbours

Other countries aren’t waiting for the market to sort itself out.

In Germany, batteries and chargers must comply with EN 50604-1 - a rigorous European standard developed precisely for lithium-ion safety. Their Federal Motor Transport Authority oversees type approvals. Retailers who flout safety standards risk steep fines and prosecution.

The Netherlands, a country now practically built for bikes, has similarly strict standards for fire safety and electrical conformity. Dutch fire services run public campaigns about e-bike battery safety - how to charge safely, what to look for in certified equipment, and how to dispose of old batteries.

France now requires AFNOR certification for many e-bike components, with a growing focus on battery traceability and labelling. The government has also poured millions into e-bike purchase grants, helping people afford safer, better-built machines.

In all three countries, the common thread is clear: rules, support, and public awareness.

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Meanwhile in the UK…

Here? It’s largely a free-for-all. There’s no mandatory certification for e-bike batteries, no public information campaign, no consumer-friendly safety standard like a UK Kitemark, and little enforcement to weed out dangerous products from online marketplaces.

Even reputable conversion kits can be sabotaged by a cheap third-party charger or a poorly configured BMS. And right now, no one in government is checking.

What America’s getting right

It might come as a surprise, but the US - not always known for tight consumer regulation has something with the undeniably catchy name "UL 2849" - a certification standard issued by Underwriters Laboratories, the gold standard for product safety. It tests the entire electrical system of an e-bike: battery, charger, motor, and wiring. UL-listed systems are far less likely to catch fire because they’ve been torture-tested to prevent short circuits, overheating, and charger mismatch.

In New York City, following a spate of battery fire deaths in 2023, lawmakers didn’t wait. New rules mean that from September 2024, all e-bike batteries sold, rented, or used by delivery workers must be UL-certified. The city has also rolled out battery swap schemes for delivery riders. Rather than charging a battery overnight at home, couriers can now exchange depleted packs for fully charged ones at street kiosks. It’s fast, cheap, and far safer.

What needs to happen here

We urgently need a similar approach in the UK. That means:

• Mandatory third-party safety certification for batteries, conversion kits, and chargers.
• Public awareness campaigns about safe charging and spotting dodgy gear.
• Stronger marketplace enforcement, with powers to take down listings and prosecute repeat offenders.
• A kitemark or safety label riders can trust at a glance.
• Grants or subsidies to help delivery riders and low-income users replace unsafe kits with certified alternatives.

E-bikes deserve better

E-bikes are part of the solution to so many challenges: climate change, congestion, inequality, air pollution, even loneliness. But they can’t fulfil that potential if safety is left to chance.

We know what works. We’re seeing it in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, and now New York.

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Insurance for e-bikes

Our e-bike insurance includes everything you’d expect, like theft, accidental damage and vandalism cover – plus a few things you might not. For example, we have a no-quibble battery theft policy, zero devaluation for life, and if you break down on your electric bike, or run out of battery, you can call us 24/7 and we’ll arrange a rescue. Whether you ride a tricycle, folding, mountain or cargo electric bike, our comprehensive policy has you covered.

Every ETA cycle insurance policy includes the following as standard:

• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue (breakdown cover for your electric bicycle and you)
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)

Read a full list of everything we include as standard.

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