All about e-bikes
How to get UL certified ebikes
What people can do with non UL certified ebikes?
As electric bikes grow in popularity, so does the need for improved safety.
While e-bikes are eco-friendly and convenient for both commuters and delivery riders, some precautionary measures need to be taken.
UL certification ensures just that – that electric bikes are up to the latest safety standards.
Until recently, there were no mandatory safety standards for electric bike batteries in the U.S.
This led to a surge in e-bikes fires.
In fact, fires due to improper e-bike batteries, mostly lithium-ion ones, resulted in 268 incidents in 2023 – 18 of them were fatal, and 150 more resulted in injuries.
As a result, the NY state government decided in March 2023 that UL certifications had to become mandatory.
The UL certification means a product has been proven to meet the latest safety, security, or quality standards. E-bikes with this certification use batteries that have been certified as safe, meaning they are less likely to malfunction and explode.
Back in 2022, the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) published a public statement about the growing safety problem of electric bicycles.
Among other things, NBDA’s President Heather Mason has stated:
“The bicycle industry needs to take immediate action. After extensive consultations with experts in the field; e-bike and e-scooter lithium-ion battery safety is a large and immediate subject that we need to act on now.”
NY State was among the first states to act. Since 2023, all e-bikes in New York City and many other locations are required to be UL-certified.
“E-bikes are critical tools used by tens of thousands of delivery workers to support our economy. By providing these workers with reliable, safe equipment, we are helping protect this workforce, their neighbors and loved ones, and all New Yorkers who rely on them each day,” stated Ydanis Rodriguez, an NYC Department of Transportation (DOT)commissioner.
Many other states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, are yet to bring such laws. Even in such locations, more and more businesses require riders to use only UL-certified bikes for added assurance.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) constantly urges manufacturers to adhere to UL certifications, so it is a matter of time before they become mandatory nation-wise.
The NY State government is doing all it can to ensure the safety of its electric bike riders. This includes some more aggressive steps regarding non-UL-certified bikes.
The city passed legislation that bans the sale, lease, or rental of e-bikes and e-bike batteries that are not UL-certified (the specific certifications are UL 2849 for e-bikes and UL 2271/2272 for their batteries).
As of September 2024, riding a bike that isn’t UL-certified is not entirely prohibited, but some repercussions do exist.
According to the new e-bike laws in NYC, specifically Int 0663-2022, if the authority finds that the e-bike is unsafe or non-compliant with current safety regulations, its rider might be forced to pay penalties.
While the first violation of this rule is just a warning, subsequent violations might result in a fine of up to $1,000.
It isn’t certain just how many non-certified e-bikes are on the streets of NYC. With more than 65,000 e-bikes in the city, it’s clear that hundreds, if not thousands of them are uncertified.
The question arises: What should we do with all these e-bikes, especially if riding them becomes entirely illegal, something that is likely to happen in the recent future?
The New York State government has thought about that, too.
First, DOT is proposing a rule to give property owners approval to install electric battery swapping and charging cabinets on public sidewalks, something that is currently prohibited.
Of course, each cabinet must be approved by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) and the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY).
This will help e-bike riders charge their batteries in a safe way, or even to swap their batteries if necessary.
Another solution is the E-Micromobility Trade-in Program for Food Delivery Workers, which is supposed to start in early 2025.
If all goes according to plan, this program will offer trade-ins of lithium ion-batteries and e-micromobility devices. This should ensure that there are no more non-certified devices on the NYC streets.
However, there are a few conditions for this:
Related: How much does an e-bike cost
It’s clear that not all people will meet these requirements, so many rental and sale companies are looking to create alternatives.
One of them is Whizz’s new Trade-in Program. This program allows riders to exchange their old, uncertified e-bike for the new Storm-2 model.
All the necessary requirements are that you have a valid ID card and that you’re over the age of 18. Then, you can bring your used e-bike – no older than 2020 and without any mechanical damages that affect functionality – and get a new bike at almost half its price.
Not only that, but you can pay it using split-rent payments.
Check our e-bikes if you’re looking for a safe, UL-certified bike for your food delivery business.
