E-Bike Batteries Are Forcing Cities to Write New Rules
Electric bikes are cheap, useful and everywhere. Fires linked to poor-quality batteries and chargers have pushed regulators to act.
Electric bikes have become one of the most practical changes in urban transport. Delivery riders depend on them, commuters use them to replace car trips, and prices for basic models have fallen steeply. Their spread has also exposed a problem regulators were slow to address: lithium-ion battery fires, many linked to cheap, uncertified batteries, conversion kits and mismatched chargers.
Fire services in London and other large cities have reported rising numbers of e-bike and e-scooter battery fires in recent years. These fires can develop quickly and release toxic gases, and they often start indoors while a battery is charging in a hallway or bedroom. The worst cases have been fatal. Investigators frequently point to batteries bought online from sellers with no clear safety certification, or batteries that were damaged and kept in use.
Policy responses are arriving from several directions. In Britain, lawmakers and safety campaigners have pushed for tighter rules on batteries sold online, including third-party certification and clearer responsibility for marketplaces. Some cities in the United States have introduced requirements that batteries meet recognised safety standards before sale. Housing providers and transport operators have issued their own rules on where e-bikes may be stored or carried.
Delivery platforms face particular pressure. Many couriers are self-employed and buy the cheapest equipment available, and some platforms have begun battery-swap or subsidy programmes to encourage certified equipment. Critics argue that the companies should do more, given how central e-bikes are to their business.
Recycling is another gap. Used batteries thrown into household waste can cause fires in bin lorries and recycling centres. Collection schemes exist but are poorly publicised.
For riders, safety advice is consistent: buy from reputable sellers, use the charger designed for the battery, avoid charging overnight or near exits, stop using a battery that has been dropped, swells or overheats, and dispose of old batteries through proper collection points.
Why it matters: e-bikes cut congestion and emissions, and badly designed rules could price out the riders who benefit most. Good regulation should target unsafe products without penalising the technology. Limitation: official statistics often group e-bikes and e-scooters together, which makes precise comparisons difficult.
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