New e-bike conversion kit guidance spells out safety rules as fire risks are tackled

New government guidance on e-bike conversion kits sets out the safety rules that sellers must follow, as part of the effort to tackle fires linked to unsafe e-bikes and their batteries.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published the guidance on 11 November. It explains how existing product safety law applies to kits that turn an ordinary pedal bike into an electric one, and is aimed at the businesses that make and sell them in the UK.

What the guidance covers

All conversion kits that include an electric motor are covered, whether or not they come with a battery or charger. The guidance reminds businesses of the essential requirements they must meet under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 to sell a safe product, including proper product information, instructions for users and the right product markings.

It does not create new legal duties, but it is designed to give businesses more certainty, and to help Trading Standards and other enforcement bodies identify and act against kits that do not meet the rules.

Too fast for the road

The guidance also covers kits that let riders go faster than the legal limit for e-bikes, which is 15.5mph. It carries a clear message: such kits, fitted to a pedal bike, are illegal to use on the road, even if they are safely made, unless the vehicle is registered and insured and the rider has a driving licence and wears an appropriate helmet.

Part of a wider push on e-bike safety

The guidance complements the government's statutory guidelines on lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes, published in 2024, which set out the safety features batteries must have. It also ties in with the Buy Safe, Be Safe campaign, which encourages good habits when using, storing and charging e-bikes and converted e-bikes.

Why it matters in Birmingham

E-bikes have become a common sight on Birmingham's roads, used for commuting and by many delivery riders. Fire services across the country have repeatedly warned about fires caused by faulty or poorly matched batteries and chargers, often in homes and often at night.

For riders, the advice is straightforward:

Buy kits, batteries and chargers from reputable sellers, and check they carry the correct markings and instructions.

Use the charger that came with the battery, and never mix and match parts.

Avoid charging overnight or while you are out, and keep batteries away from exits and escape routes.

Make sure your home has working smoke alarms, and test them regularly.

Remember that a converted bike able to go faster than 15.5mph under power counts as a motor vehicle, and cannot be ridden on the road without registration, insurance and a licence.

Anyone worried that a product they have bought is unsafe can report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.