MP for Meon Valley in Hampshire, Flick Drummond, has signed an open letter asking Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to tackle unsafe e-bike imports and improve regulations.
The appeal follows an event at Westminster organised by Brompton Bicycle and charity Electrical Safety First (ESF), where Drummond was told of the potential safety issues surronding the rising popularity of e-bikes, the Hampshire Chronicle reports.
The government earlier this year consulted to double the legal wattage of motors to 500W and allow ‘twist and go’ e-bikes with throttle control up to 15.5mph. Commenting on the proposals, ESF said substandard e-bike batteries are already causing "devastating" fires across the country, and that it was “concerning” that the government is consulting on permitting an increase in power, “without first addressing the critical safety concerns we have raised”.
Emergency service figures released in March revealed that there were 11 deaths in the UK last year, in fires caused by e-bikes.
Drummond said: “I am concerned about more powerful e-bikes on our roads and the fire risk they pose. 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.”
Brompton last month announced its backing for ESF’s campaign that would require third party certification for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries, reducing the risk of potentially dangerous batteries entering the market.
The bill would also seek 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.
ESF last month also urged the government to back the bill after footage was released of an e-bike fire at Sutton Railway Station. Fire crews were called to the station on March 21 after an e-bike bought from an online marketplace burst into flames on the platform.
According to the LFB, e-bike and e-scooter fires are the fastest growing fire trend in the capital, with 31 e-bike fires and 9 e-scooter fires from January 1 to April 4.
> E-bike safety: What to avoid when buying an e-bike, battery or charger
