Warning for anyone who turned their pedal bike into an e-bike in the UK
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has published new guidance around e-Bike conversion kits following concerns that they could lead to fires.
The guidance, which makes clear how existing product safety rules apply to e-bike conversion kits, is specifically designed to give greater certainty to businesses manufacturing and supplying e-bike conversion kits in the UK.
It sets out key safety issues that responsible businesses should consider when they make these products available, to demonstrate conversion kits can be used safely by consumers.
While it does not create any new legal obligations, the guidance will support business to comply with the requirements in the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and will support enforcing authorities to identify and take action for any e-bike conversion kits that do not meet the Regulations.
Some kits let a bike exceed a continuous rated power of 250 watts or a powered speed of 15.5mph. OPSS said fitting one of these kits to a pedal bike creates a motor vehicle.
Riders cannot legally use these bikes on roads or public land unless the vehicle is registered and insured. The rider must also hold a driving licence and wear an appropriate helmet.
That rule applies even when the kit itself is a safely manufactured product. The regulator brought these higher-powered kits within the scope of its guidance.
Converted e-bikes that stay within the limits count as conventional pedal cycles under the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983. The minimum rider age for these bikes is 14.
