The Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique (CENELEC) in Brussels is currently assessing whether there is sufficient support to adopt the VDMA 24994 as the standard across the European Union for safe e-bike battery storage. – Photo Tweewieler

Will German standard for e-bike battery storage soon apply across...

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Which battery cabinet provides sufficient protection when an e-bike battery catches fire? Many bicycle industry entrepreneurs are uncertain about the products available. The German VDMA 24994 standard is intended to help separate the good from the bad. According to Bart van de Broek of Dutch financial services provider Nationale-Nederlanden, it will soon be clear whether this standard will also apply across all of Europe.

On a European scale, CEN (European Committee for Standardization) is working on standards for (e-)cargo bikes to align with the Machinery Directive. – Photo Shutterstock

LEV framework in the Netherlands faces further delays

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - The Dutch Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) framework has been postponed once more, according to the RAI Association, the professional organization for (e-)bike manufacturers in the Netherlands. Initially set to take effect on January 1, 2025, the framework is now delayed until July 2025. Implementation of the new framework will have implications for amongst others, e-cargobike users in the country.

Blog: Fuuuuuut!!! 

Blog: Fuuuuuut!!!

As I wrote in one of my earlier blogs, the upcoming General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) is food for many more blogs to come. It contains many provisions that go far beyond the current EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). In this blog, I would like to draw attention to a new obligation that is introduced in the GPSR: accident reporting.

Highlighted topics in Laws & Regulations

SGS’s braking performance test with machine method is a customised braking performance test facility designed for cargo bikes, to adopt the wider and longer dimension than a typical two-wheeled bicycle. – Photo SGS

Shifting gears: Europe's new standard for e-cargo bikes

GENEVA, Switzerland - E-cargobikes are becoming an increasingly common sight on our city streets. They offer a sensible and sustainable alternative to fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. However, without strict safety standards, they also present a risk to riders and other road users. Chih-Hao Lien, Assistant Manager at SGS Hardlines Lab in Taiwan asks: What does the publication of the EN 17860 series of standards for carrier cycles mean for suppliers of e-cargo bikes and the safety on our urban streets?

The development of a new standard in the US became urgent after the publication of the e-bike related incidents. – Photo Shutterstock

US authorities soliciting industry comments on e-bike safety

WASHINGTON, USA - To counter the rapidly increasing number of accidents with e-bikes, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has initiated a rulemaking proceeding. They have invited all industry stakeholders to comment on the risk of injury associated with mechanical hazards of e-bikes and plans to develop new standards to address these risks.

“We believe e-bike brands and sellers of lithium-ion batteries testing, certifying, and labeling their products as complying with UL 2849 and UL 2271 will help the US market,” says Heather Mason of the NBDA. - Photo Bike Europe

E-bike fires unites US Congress in vote for battery safety legislation

WASHINGTON, USA - The number of e-bike battery related fires in the city of New York has resulted in bipartisan support in Congress for legislation to develop standards for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries. According to safety experts this regulation is the only option to limit the number of e-bike fires. What do cycling organisations and the industry expect of this legislation?

India is now developing a local supply chain which can deliver world-class products for export to any market globally. - Photo Satnam Singh

India looks to align e-bike standard with global requirements

LUDHIANA, India - India is in the midst of framing standards for e-bikes as it aspires to step-up its export to the EU market. But first, the domestic industry needs to gel the local standards to become compatible with European standards.

“The fact that chargers were still for sale reinforces the need for urgent changes to the law, strict enforcement and penalties,” says UK consumer safety charity, Electrical Safety First. – Photo Wish.com

Regulation required to ban unsafe e-bike battery chargers and...

LONDON, UK - Quality issues with e-bike battery chargers have caused reasons for concern in the UK but also in EU countries. One of the largest online sellers of e-bike chargers and conversion kits, Wish.com has banned the sales of the products citing safety risks. Yet there are serious concerns about the enforcement of the new policy.

Left to right: Dr Mo-Hua Yang, President of EnergyBus, Hannes Neupert, President of ExtraEnergy and Board Member of EnergyBus, Onkar Singh, Managing Director, Avon Cycles Limited and Chairman R&D taskforce, AICMA, Harsimerjit Singh, President of trade body UCPMA (United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association) and U Rajagopal, President, AICMA at the industry event in November. – Photo Satnam Singh

India drafting standards for e-bikes as market develops rapidly

LUDHIANA, India - The Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) is in the midst of drafting standards for electric power assisted cycles. Standards for electric bicycles are likely to take final shape in the next six months and be ready for implementation by the middle of 2024, industry insiders involved in drafting the standards have said.

In the food delivery sector there is a widespread use of bicycles converted to e-bikes via e-bike conversion kits, the London Fire Brigade has determined. – Photo Shutterstock

UK bike industry bodies issue e-bike battery guidance as new safety...

LONDON, England - An increase in e-bike battery fires in the UK has prompted a call for new legislation to mandate the safety of e-bike batteries including third party approval. In response, two cycling industry trade bodies in the UK have joined forces to issue guidance sheets for the industry and called for stricter enforcement of product safety for products supplied to the UK.

Blog: Online platforms become quasi-regulators

Blog: Online platforms become quasi-regulators

The rapid growth of e-commerce has transformed the way we shop, allowing us to purchase a wide range of products conveniently from online marketplaces. However, this convenience also brings certain risks, particularly when it comes to product safety.

E-bikes changing legal landscape 

E-bikes changing legal landscape

As market shares for e-bikes across Europe grow, so does the need for the correct regulatory framework to help this booming business thrive. This online magazine looks at the legal changes being made and what is on the horizon, including the new battery regulation which is aimed at developing a competitive and sustainable battery industry in Europe. Also, as a last mile delivery opportunity and eco-friendly alternative to a car, the relevance of the cargo bike is growing. A new European standard for this category is needed to help standardise the legal patchwork that exists throughout Europe.

Under the current regulation similar cargo bikes are classified differently from country to country. – Photo velotech.de

Cargo bike standard a step closer to finalisation

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - During a recent meeting of the Dutch standardisation committee and European stakeholders, the completion of a standard for cargo bikes was discussed. "A European standard would be helpful to standardise the legal patchwork that exists throughout Europe," explains velotech.de MD Marco Brust.

In the past 11 months 208 micromobility fire or overheating incidents have been reported in the US. – Photo Bike Europe

US authorities calls on e-bike manufacturers to comply with safety...

WASHINGTON, United States - In an open letter to more than 2,000 e-bike, e-scooter, hoverboard and e-unicycle manufacturers and importers, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that failure to adhere to applicable UL2849 safety standards may pose an unreasonable risk to consumers of fire and serious injury or death.

Projectmanager of the European working group Joost Witsenburg, will present an update on the cargobike standard during the International Cargo Bike Festival. – Photo NEN

Pon.Bike subsidiary Urban Arrow takes lead in EU cargobike standard

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - In close cooperation with the Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN), Pon.Bike subsidiary Urban Arrow has taken the lead to develop seven standards for cargobikes. Today, projectmanager of the European working group Joost Witsenburg, will present an update during the International Cargo Bike Festival.

BLOG: E-bike battery fires and what the industry can do about it

BLOG: E-bike battery fires and what the industry can do about it

Did you see the horror crash of Formula 1 racer Zhoa at Silverstone this year? He survived, miraculously, due to a mandatory safety measure that was introduced in 2018 by car sports federation FIA: the halo. The halo is a titanium part that is placed over the driver's cockpit. The design has a strong resemblance with the upper part of a flip-flop - just look at your Havaianas.

A quick search on internet brings you directly to tampering kits. – Photo bikespeed

Bicycle industry calls for ban on sale, application and use of e-bike...

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The industry takes strong stance against tampering of e-bikes. 15 national bicycle industry associations and 68 companies have become signatories to a self-commitment to prevent the tampering of e-bikes under the umbrella of CONEBI.

CONEBI and ZIV will host an EU legislation update event at Eurobike. Photo: Bike Europe

EU legislation and the future of the bicycle industry update event at...

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - The industry organisation CONEBI and ZIV will host an update event on future legislation in the European Union. A high-level panel will discuss the role of the EU in securing robust, long-term development of the bicycle industry and the related ecosystem in Europe.

The reason for the review is that current requirements in the field of electronics and vibrations no longer meet the state-of-the-art expectations of e-bikes. – Photo EMEC

European Committee for Standardization (CEN) starts revision of...

DELFT, the Netherlands - The European standard for e-bikes EN 15194: 2017 is being revised. According to an initial planning, adjustments in the field of electronics and batteries will be published. In addition, guidelines are being developed to combat tampering.

The ISO standard brings together regulations from various countries. – Photo Shimano

ISO/TS 4210-10 only a technical specification, not a standard

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The existing ISO 4210 safety standard for bicycles was supposed to be extended with a new paragraph on e-bikes. On 1 September ISO officially published this Part 10, but not as a standard, but a technical specification.

The newly launched BatteriesTransport website is a joint industry initiative with the goal of ensuring the safe transportation of batteries and battery-powered products.- Photo Shutterstock

Cross-industry platform to support safe battery transportation

BRUSSELS, Belgium - A new information platform for the safe transportation, testing and packaging of battery cells, batteries, and vehicles and equipment containing batteries has been launched. BatteriesTransport.org is a joint industry initiative of eight industry associations for batteries and battery-powered products, including LEV trade association, LEVA-EU.

More on Safety standards

  1. Most read on Bike Europe

  2. Simplon applies for Chapter 11 status as restructuring procedures continue

  3. Revonte CEO on why their drive system failed in a thriving e-bike market

  4. 16,500 fatbikes seized in the Netherlands due to non-compliance with type approval

  1. Anti-Dumping on Made-in-China e-bikes

  2. European e-bike industry invited to participate in anti-dumping survey

  3. UK now also examining anti-dumping duties on bicycles from China

  4. Five more years of anti-dumping duties on bicycles? EU initiates expiry review

  1. All You Need to Know on EN 15194 Standard

  2. LEVA-EU information meeting on LEV topics at Eurobike

  3. Proposal for new EU Machinery legislation leads to uncertainty in the industry

  4. Ensuring compliance for UK e-bike exports post-Brexit

  1. Financial news

  2. Rocky Mountain Bicycles the latest brand to apply for Chapter 11 status

  3. Troubled Pierer Mobility hires investment bank to oversee reorganisation

  4. Pon reorganises GT Bicycles: 'Laying a solid foundation for GT's next chapter'

  1. Bicycle Industry at the Core of Sustainable Development

  2. Sunrise builds frame factory in Vietnam to comply with ESG requirements

  3. WBIA calls for collaboration in supply chain sustainability project

  4. Herrmans continues to decarbonise its portfolio with 100% recycled plastic chainguards

  5. Cycling brands launch training to cut supply chain emissions