While I completely understand the worry about fires on the Underground, can I tediously point out that the risk almost *never* comes from actual e-bikes, and almost always from what are, under the law, illegal electric motorbikes. Proper, legal, 15mph-limited e-bikes are very, very safe.
Comments
Legal ones are branded and have things like product and serial numbers.
Weirdly, illegally attached batteries and systems tend not to. Plus you can see they're bolted on.
But bikes like this, with after-market attachments (often badly fitted) like the frame bag battery and oversized rear hubs are pretty easy to spot (imo).
I certainly don't blame staff for this, legislation should have been sorted 20 years ago.
Yes of course we do. The underground can make their own travel regulations.
If you don't know UK e-bike regs currently mirror those of the EU, pedelec only compliant for bicycles, everything else is a motor bike or more likely illegal.
The underground are choosing to ban b/c of the difficulty re differentiating.
PAT testing & certifying e-bikes stored on premises could be a sensible compromise?
https://wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/wheels-for-wellbeing-position-statement-on-statutory-guidelines-on-lithium-ion-battery-safety-for-e-bikes/
CE marking on the whole bike, or just a battery, should be enough, it's the batteries that are the risk, as you say.
I'd be happy to have my conversion inspected, too.
Sledgehammers + nuts.
In reality the danger is any bike with badly designed or assembled battery pack/cells on any product at all, while that may be more likely with "improper ebikes" it can happen with a proper one too, even name brands screw up sometimes! (Ford, Samsung)
https://www.tesla-fire.com
E-bikes are heavy.
A lot of cheaper bikes are heavy too, whereas expensive e-bikes can be surprisingly light.
I can’t lift any of them, though!
.. now have you lifted a dutch style cycle ..?
It's a sign of "Is this a company that cares about the law?" If not, it's a bad sign.
These are also the ones that are the fire risk, of course.
I think your referring to illegal electric motorcycles and their owners