E-Bike Positive Launches Second Phase of Audits

The E-Bike Positive campaign has now opened the next phase of audits for brands seeking E-Bike Positive status.

Verified E-Bike Positive status give consumers confidence and provides stakeholders with a clear benchmark for good practice. All participating brands meet legal and industry expectations for the responsible procurement and sale of safe, road-legal e-bikes. This means when customers buy a new e-bike from a verified brand, they can be confident it has been safety tested and is fully UK road legal.

In the first phase of the scheme, 33 brands achieved E-Bike Positive verification, representing over 80% of reputable e-bikes sold in the UK. The campaign says now is the time to ‘join them and show customers that your e-bikes are safe and road legal.’

What’s involved in a brand audit?

The audit involves a site visit by the Bicycle Association’s auditor to the UK manufacturer or importer, and uses a standard template to evaluate the brand’s compliance. This includes checking for:

1. Evidence of the brand having procedures in place ensuring each e-bike model is in full and proper compliance with product safety requirements, specifically the conformity assessment required for UKCA or CE marking under Machinery, EMC, RoHS and any other relevant product safety legislation.

2. Evidence of standards-based testing being carried out and correctly evidenced, to appropriate and up-to-date international standards, for the brand’s e-bikes and battery systems. Typically this will be to the standard BS EN15194 for e-bikes, and BS EN 50604 for battery packs.

3. Evidence that all e-bikes meet the definition of Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (i.e. are road-legal e-bikes for the UK).

4. Evidence of safe compatibility between the e-bike, battery pack & charger.

5. Evidence that appropriate measures to maintain battery performance and safety are taken whilst the e-bikes/batteries are in the organisation’s custody.

6. Review of battery safety, charging and maintenance information provided to consumers.

7. Verification of the brand’s compliance with Producer Responsibility regulations as applicable – for example to ensure that they fulfil their obligations for the safe collection and disposal of end-of-life battery packs.

8. Review of safety-relevant quality processes including supply chain measures, failure/warranty reporting and investigation procedures, recall procedure preparedness.

Want to get involved with E-Bike Positive?

Share the E-Bike Positive pitch deck with the wider industry

Supporting E-Bike Positive offers the industry a cost-effective, policy-led mechanism to help stabilise the UK e-bike market.

Complete the Audit

Complete the E-Bike Positive safety audit in respect of all own-brand e-bikes.

Become an E-Bike Positive Retailer

Sign up to and operate according to the E-Bike Positive retailer pledge.

All e-bike brands with a presence in the UK market are welcome to participate. To find out more about getting your brand audited, get in touch by email.