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New research from WMG looks into e-bike and e-scooter battery safety

Following a rise in e-bike and e-scooter battery fires in the UK, WMG researchers have been researching the future of battery safety.

An independent report from The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) commissioned WMG at The University of Warwick to produce research on the risks associated with unsafe e-bike and e-scooter batteries and chargers.

The report outlines how battery failures occur, processes and materials that achieve safer design and use of batteries, and potential shortcomings in product standards.

The Personal Light Electric Vehicle (PLEV) Battery Safety Research suggests actions spanning the following areas:

  • Consistency in legislation applicable to PLEV batteries
  • Consistency in standards to cover all PLEV batteries
  • Detailed improvements to standards, ranging from cell production quality to abuse testing methodology and functional safety
  • Improvements to the collection of real-world data
  • Increased obligations and sanctions for companies selling PLEVs and the batteries

James McLaggan, Principal Engineer (Battery Safety) at WMG and author of the report explained: "WMG has been advancing the science of battery safety testing for over 15 years, investing in dedicated laboratories, equipment and development of new test methods, supporting dozens of industrial partners to better understand the safety behaviour of their batteries. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to use this capability to assist OPSS to achieve a deeper understanding of the root causes of PLEV battery fires."

WMG’s research includes reviews of scientific literature, real world incident data, legislation, and standards, as well as stakeholder consultations and safety testing of PLEV batteries available on the UK market.

Fire incident data shows that the most severe outcomes occur when batteries are stored or charged indoors, because the resulting fires create greater hazards in confined spaces.

The scientific literature shows the likelihood and severity of fires being higher when Lithium-ion batteries are fully charged, and much higher still when over-charged.

WMG’s product testing has identified shortcomings in some PLEV batteries which could lead to over-charging if an incorrect charger is used. In some products the resulting cascade of component failures led to fire and explosion. Conversely, some batteries protected themselves robustly, demonstrating that appropriate design and manufacture can achieve a good level of safety.

Mark Urbanowski, Principal Engineer – Micromobility, at WMG, who co-authored the report, added: "E-bikes and e-scooters are an important part of the UK’s future urban transport mix to decarbonise, reduce congestion and provide accessible transport options for all.  At WMG we are working closely with the micromobility industry to make products safer, more sustainable and easier to use.

“As part of our investigation we’ve tested high quality batteries from e-bikes and e-scooters that withstand extreme abuse without going into thermal runaway. However, we have also tested batteries, readily available to buy online, with poor design or manufacturing quality that fail to mitigate against improper use like using the wrong charger."

Read the report in full hereLink opens in a new window.

Also recently published, WMG co-authored a technical research paper with TRL that was commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) to support the development of regulations for e-scooters in the UK. The report sets out what the future technical requirements for e-scooters should be to optimise safety, sustainability and accessibility.

The work focused on how to develop regulations to ensure that risks posed to e-scooter users and other road users are as low as possible, that the design of e-scooters is inclusive for all, including disabled people, and that the sustainability of e-scooters is maximised in order to make a net contribution towards zero carbon emissions.

Read the report in full hereLink opens in a new window.

ENDS