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Fatal e-bike fire was caused by incompatible charger - coroner joins campaigners in calling for UK safety standards

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Richard Peace's picture

Richard Peace

Richard Peace took to full-time outdoor writing/photojournalism after stints in an office and as an English teacher abroad. His cycling route guide books include the best-selling Ultimate C2C Guide and the Ultimate UK Cycle Route Planner plus Electric Bicycles. He has written for various media about many aspects of cycling

2 comments

4 months 1 week ago

Raising the speed assistance limit of e-bikes to 18mph from 15.5mph might reduce the number of people seeking to make home made e-bikes with dodgy equipment. A few sample cases of people being massively fined for using an e-bike that is powered to well beyond the legal limit might also deter the 'well if I can buy it online, it must be ok' modders that use dodgy bikes. Though, it will be interesting to see if this becomes a problem with cars and vans when the law starts enforcing a switch from petrol and diesel vehicles.

4 months 2 weeks ago

These ebike fires are pretty much all due to either Heath Robinson lash-ups, or ebikes living separately from their originally supplied charger (wonder how that happens...). So the official response is regulation and standards and approvals - because that's what these people respect and follow. Yup.