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Brompton Bicycles has backed calls for tighter rules to help ensure only safe e-bike batteries come to market.
The largest volume bike manufacturer in Britain, recognised for its folding design, has formally backed a Ten Minute Rule Bill drafted by the charity, Electrical Safety First, to be tabled by Yvonne Fovargue MP sometime in the spring.
The manufacturer is the largest in its field, producing around 100,000 bikes every year, and is the first and biggest major bike manufacturer to support new regulations for e-bike batteries.
Brompton now joins 45 other organisations also backing the calls for new rules, including: the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Childrens Burns Trust and more.
The Bill will seek to introduce third party certification for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to reduce the risk of dangerous batteries entering the market and subsequently, people’s homes.
At present, manufacturers can self-declare their batteries are safe prior to selling them to the public.
If introduced, the regulation would see e-bikes, e-scooter and their batteries added to an existing list of products which are already subject to third party certification, including fireworks and heavy machinery.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, said: “The support for our Bill by Brompton Bicycle demonstrates how reputable manufacturers want to protect shoppers and their industry from the bad operators in this space who may be producing substandard batteries. We are very pleased to have their support.
“Our Bill will better protect the public, protect good businesses and weed out bad operators producing dangerous batteries that put people’s lives at risk. We urge the Government to adopt our Bill when it is tabled.”
Two other aspects of the Bill will: seek standards for conversion kits and charging systems, as well as mandatory markings on lithium batteries to better inform households they are not suitable to be disposed of in the general waste, following many recycling centre fires.
Will Butler-Adams, CEO at Brompton Bicycle, said: “We need to get more people on bikes, it’s good for your health and good for our planet, and above all else it makes us happy.
“Electric bikes are allowing more people to enjoy the fun and freedom of cycling, but unfortunately there are a number of serious incidents coming from unregulated e-bikes and conversion kits that could jeopardise this momentum and put people off getting back on a bike.
“If we can ensure that all electric bikes follow the same stringent testing and checks as our own, then the future for electric bikes is bright, and we can bring back cycling for generations to come.”
E-bike and e-scooters have become one of London’s fastest growing fire risks.
In 2023 there was a fire from one of their batteries in London, on average, once every two days.
Since 2020 more than 190 people have been injured and at least 13 lives have been lost due to this concerning trend.
The issue is widespread across the UK and Electrical Safety First estimates that in the last 18 months, lithium-ion battery fires have occurred in 150 UK parliamentary constituencies.
