Battery Safety Standards for E-Bikes, E-Motorcycles, and E-Scooters.
By now, most in the e-bikes, e-motorcycle, and e-scooter industry are already aware that a new law was recently implemented by New York City in the United States to advance battery safety compliance by requiring retailers in the city to sell product that have UL 2849 standard certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) organization. While this law is currently being enforced in only one city, it is important for e-mobility brands to begin adopting battery safety certification for their respective markets. As more incidents involving unsafe batteries used by e-bikes, e-motorcycles, and e-scooters are highlighted by media across global markets - it is just a matter time before more legislation is enacted to combat the growing safety hazard.
United States and Canada
Short of implementing the same initiative New York City to require the UL 2849 standard certification, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has formally advised US-based manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of e-mobility products to comply with ANSI/CAN/UL 2272 – Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices (February 26, 2019), and ANSI/CAN/UL 2849 – Standard for Safety for Electrical Systems for e-bikes (June 17, 2022) because products that do not meet these standards could present a substantial product hazard under Section 15(a) of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. § 2064(a) code. The ANSI/CAN/UL 2849 in particular will cover the full electrical system for e-bikes, including the battery, charger, and motor.
Europe and Great Britain
As of April 2023, there has not been any unified code or legal requirement from the European Union or Great Britain for e-bikes or e-scooters. Currently, the most common standard referenced by European entities for lithium-ion battery safety is the IEC 62133-2:2017 standard certification from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Cost
The total cost for compliance is perhaps the most important factor to consider. Depending on the accredited laboratory to handle the testing and certification, the service will cost between USD 5,000-7,000. In addition, the quantity of testing samples necessary to conduct the testing can range from 10 to 15 units of batteries and chargers. As this is the average cost for each model, the upfront costs for a range of models will be considerable.
Prepare now
OERUS strongly recommends all clients to begin embracing safety standard certification for any e-mobility products containing batteries. We provide a comprehensive analysis of existing product lines to determine what the best cost-efficient compliance strategy each client should adopt. Contact OERUS today and let us help you get started on battery safety compliance.