Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond has signed an open letter to the Prime Minister asking him to tackle the import of more powerful unsafe e-bikes and improve regulations.
The popularity of e-bikes has steadily risen year after year but there are issues, the MP was told at a Westminster event organised by Brompton Bicycles and the charity Electrical Safety First (ESF).
Emergency Service Figures released in March revealed there were 11 deaths in the UK last year in fires caused by e-bikes.
The bikes are also becoming more powerful due to conversion kits – meaning they can speed at over 15mph without pedalling at all.
There are concerns about the Government’s recent proposals on changes to e-bike regulation which could pose a further public safety risk and reduce the appeal of e-bikes to consumers.
The proposed regulation changes could also increase the fire risk posed by unregulated e-bikes and e-bike conversion kits, Brompton and ESF said.
Both want to see improved 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.
“I am concerned about more powerful e-bikes on our roads and the fire risk they pose,” said Flick.
“E-bikes travelling at more than 15 mph is a danger to pedestrians and other road users and does somewhat eradicate any health benefit from cycling – something I would not like to see as a keen cyclist myself who uses only pedal power.
“We also need to see that e-bikes are as safe as possible from fire risk. I urge the PM to look again at any changes to regulations that might jeopardise standards and to halt the increasing power of the bikes.”
The letter is below
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing to you as a group of cross-party parliamentarians to urge you to tackle unsafe e-bike batteries entering the UK market and reconsider the recent proposals for changes to Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPC) regulation, which would:
Double the legal maximum continuous power output of the electric motor from 250 watts to 500 watts.
Allow ‘twist and go’ throttle assistance, which removes the need for the rider to pedal to receive motor assistance, up to 15.5mph without the need for type approval.
The above proposals risk jeopardising the progress made on e-cycling and increase the risk to public safety and other road users, erase the health benefits of cycling, increase the risk of ‘tampering’ and the use of poorly regulated aftermarket conversion kits and unsafe e-bike batteries which present a fire risk.
The economic, environmental and health benefits of cycling are well-established, and e-bikes make cycling accessible to those who find using a traditional bicycle daunting such as older people, those with health issues and individuals with disabilities, as they require less physical exertion and can be used to travel further distances.
We, the undersigned parliamentarians, urge you to reconsider the proposed changes to EAPC regulations.
