Guide to e-bikes
Update 9th August 2024
Stand out as an E-Bike Positive Retailer - pledge your commitment now
Recent reports of fires linked to unsafe e-bikes and chargers have raised public concerns, potentially harming the reputation of all e-bikes. This misconception could jeopardise the growth of e-bikes as a sustainable transport solution and create challenges in an already tough market.
As an industry, we must act now to distinguish our safe, reputable products from the high-risk ones causing these incidents.
Join the E-Bike Retailer Safety Pledge to showcase your dedication to best practices in safety, ensuring that customers can confidently choose retailers who prioritise safe e-bike products and practices.
By pledging, you’ll be recognised as an E-Bike Positive Retailer, a trusted retailer prioritising customer safety.
Update 13th March 2024
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) have provided us with updated safety guidance to raise consumer awareness around the safe purchasing, use and charging of e-bikes and e-scooters.
Please share this information with your customers.
My safety: e-bikes and e-scooters battery charging
This includes a selection of posters and other assets for social media.
This follows previous guidance shared in December 2023.
Government Safety Message on e-bikes and e-scooters
Update 2nd November 2023
The ACT have teamed up with the Bicycle Association to release industry guidance on lithium battery fires and road legal e-bikes.
Everyone in the cycle industry will be aware of recent reports and headlines about e-bikes fires, some of which have, sadly, had tragic and even fatal consequences.
Additionally, in recent months a number of fatal collisions have occurred on electric motorcycles which were generally referred to in the media as “e-bikes”.
These reports risk giving the impression to the public, incorrectly in our view, that all such vehicles are unsafe. This could have serious repercussions, potentially putting at risk the growth potential of e-bikes as a transport and climate solution, and deterring e-bike customers at a time when market conditions are already challenging.
Now the ACT along with the Bicycle Association have issued guidance sheets for the industry, aiming to counter the often misleading media headlines.
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E-bikes and fire safety: what you need to know The first guidance note summarises statements from fire services and industry experts to clarify the distinction between e-bikes from the reputable industry (which are generally very safe) as opposed to e-bikes, conversion kits, batteries and chargers which may pose significant fire hazard if certain risk factors are present, for example being sourced from overseas via online marketplaces.
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E-bikes and e-scooters: What is road legal The second guidance note clarifies exactly what is road legal as an e-bike – and makes clear the actual legal status of vehicles which are often incorrectly reported as e-bikes but which are in fact unregistered motorbikes.
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Guidance for selling and servicing e-bikes
Note: E-bikes which are excluded from European type approval are often referred to as either EAPCs or EPACs:
- Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC): this is the term taken from UK legislation.
- Electrically Power Assisted Cycle (EPAC): this is the term used in European standards.
Essentially they are the same thing, where in this guide we have decided to use term EAPC in line with legislation used in the UK.
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Introduction to e-bikesAn introduction to different types of e-bikes around and the technical aspects. |
Regulations, legislation and standardsA guide through the minefield of regulations and legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes in the UK. |
EU Exit updates for e-bikesAll relevant EU Exit updates, advice and resources relevant to e-bikes. |
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Selling e-bikesA guide to how you can make the most of the biggest opportunity within the cycle trade. |
Servicing e-bikesRegardless of whether you do or don't sell e-bikes, you don't want to be turning away customers who need the services of your workshop. Here's a guide for the best practices. |
Waste Battery DisposalWhere to find information about your obligations when it comes to an e-bike battery's end of life. |
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Introduction to e-bikesAn introduction to different types of e-bikes around and the technical aspects. |
Regulations, legislation and standardsA guide through the minefield of regulations and legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes in the UK. |
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EU Exit updates for e-bikesAll relevant EU Exit updates, advice and resources relevant to e-bikes. |
Selling e-bikesA guide to how you can make the most of the biggest opportunity within the cycle trade. |
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Servicing e-bikesRegardless of whether you do or don't sell e-bikes, you don't want to be turning away customers who need the services of your workshop. Here's a guide for the best practices. |
Waste Battery DisposalWhere to find information about your obligations when it comes to an e-bike battery's end of life. |
We have also developed a 'Buyer's Guide' for e-bikes over on our consumer facing site The Cycling Experts, that you can link to and use as a tool when selling to your customers.
