BOSCH CALLS FOR MORE FEDERAL CONTROL OF E-BIKES IN THE WAKE OF NYC CLAMPDOWN
‘The Consumer Product Safety Commission should take a more active stance in regulating electric bike batteries and electronics to reduce fire risk and enhance safety, according to the head of Bosch eBike Systems in North America.
Speaking at the Austin Electrify Expo last month, Claudia Wasko urged federal regulators to mandate testing and compliance standards for the entire e-bike electronics system — not just the batteries.’
That’s the start of an interesting article in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN), and it is particularly pertinent given recent moves in New York by private landlords to ban the keeping of e-bikes and e-scooters on private property – as reported on Streetsblog NYC.
In particular Bosch would like to see safety standard UL 2849 become mandatory in the US:
‘UL 2849 has robust functional safety requirements for battery packs and battery management systems, and it also addresses risks associated with the other components of an e-bike system. Certification includes a detailed evaluation and testing of the drive unit, display unit, interconnecting cables and connectors, electrical accessories, battery system and charger system combinations.
Standards such as UL 2849 are essential to ensure safety through the thousands of cycles of charges and discharges. Testing and validating the safety of battery packs and battery management systems is needed to minimize the risk of fire and electric shock.
Getting certified to this system standard requires an investment of both time and money. Consequently, only a limited number of suppliers has taken these efforts. ‘
In BRAIN’s interview with Bosch the German market leader in the European mid-drive market also commented on contrasting e-bike trends between Europe and the USA, noting ’The average sales price in Europe’s core markets (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) is $2,700 compared to $1,800 in the United States.’
Also on the subject of batteries, Cycling Industry News reports that:
‘A much revised battery regulations framework applicable to EU member states will soon go to the European Parliament and Council for final approval, with the content of the legislation prompting anyone selling batteries into the market to have met sustainability benchmarks.
Framed around creating a circular economy around one of Europe’s most precious and most sought after resources, the new rules will require batteries found in eMobility goods, among others, to carry a “carbon footprint declaration” detailing the expenditure of carbon in production.’
