Information around how to safely purchase, charge and use e-bikes and e-scooters has been published by the UK government today in an effort to improve consumer safety.
Following consultation with industry, the guidance on battery safety for both e-scooters and e-bikes aims to raise awareness for owners on how to safely purchase an e-cycle or e-scooter, ensure it meets manufacturing requirements and is only bought from reputable sellers.
The documents also cover safe storage and charging, the warning signs for fire risk and how to address them, and how to dispose of batteries responsibly.
The guidance also reminds people that e-scooters cannot be used legally on roads unless they are part of an official rental trial.
Separate guidance has been issued to help public transport operators assess and manage fire risks associated with the carriage of e-bikes and e-scooters on trains and buses.
Similar information has been produced for those managing premises such as schools and workplaces.
READ MORE: Legislation needed to protect future of UK’s e-scooter industry
UK technology and decarbonisation minister Anthony Browne said: “Safety has always been our top priority, which is why our latest guidance aims to improve the awareness of e-bike and e-scooter users in the trial areas where they’re authorised.”
The announcement follows the Home Offices’s advice on fire safety for e-scooters and e-bikes, which was published last year.
To further understand the safety of the lithium-ion batteries used in e-cycles and e-scooters, the Office for Product Safety and Standard is currently conducting a safety study and taking enforcement action where unsafe products are found.
The extension of e-scooter trials until May 2026 also aims to enable the government to build on current learning across areas including usage, safety and environmental impacts, and to explore changing travel patterns since the pandemic.
Achievements and innovations in shared mobility and micromobility will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations officially open in March 2024. Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
