MICROMOBILITY
“PURE ELECTRIC BELIEVES THAT AS HIGH-QUALITY E-SCOOTERS ARE ACCEPTED AS AN EVERYDAY FORM OF TRANSPORT, THE QUALITY OF BATTERIES USED WILL NATURALLY CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
way into the market, propositioned as ‘cheap’ alternatives to OEM products. When these less regulated products go wrong, it can lead to negative press and thus unfavourable connotations around batteries. So how can the industry overcome these negative perceptions?
Buy direct “Lithium-ion batteries are in most people’s pockets (phones), bags (laptops and tablets) and homes (vacuum cleaners, electric cars),” added Sam Bernard, chief technology officer of e-scooter brand Pure Electric. “Technology has overcome this hurdle and been accepted into everyday life. Unfortunately, a small number of sub-standard imports and in some cases fake products, have given smaller e-vehicles, such as e-scooters, a poor reputation. “Pure Electric believes that as high-quality e-scooters
are accepted as an everyday form of transport, the quality of batteries used will naturally continue to improve. Our advice to customers is that they should only purchase lithium-ion products directly from the brand or supplier, with a good reputation and expertise.” Educating consumers and lobbying governments to look
at more stringent regulations is just one of the ways Zoomo recommends tackling the issue, which also includes people modifying their bikes and scooters by de-restricting their speed limiters. “Illegal e-bikes, for example, that do not adhere to necessary battery certifications are one of the primary causes of battery fires,” continued Conibear, “and there is currently an epidemic of courier riders modifying either their bikes or battery packs so they can go that little bit faster. These illegal bikes are the threat, not the entire e-bike sector. “To overcome this negative perception, we encourage
more stringent rules and regulations around light electric vehicle (LEV) batteries, starting with pragmatic measures to counter the presence of illegal bikes on the road. This might include introducing a period of fines for distributing illegal e-bikes and uncertified batteries, as well as Government education
40 | November 2022 to riders and mechanics on how to spot such illegal bikes.”
Modified machines One fear perhaps is that while the assistance speed restrictions on e-bikes remain at only 15.5mph, and private e-scooters are illegal on public roads, more and more people will go down the route of buying and modifying ‘illegal’ light electric vehicles. The theme remains, however, that whatever the legalities are, these batteries are at their safest when consumers use them for their recommended purpose and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, as Bernard explained. “The risk of problems with lithium-ion batteries is low and is already accepted by most people with their phones, laptops and electric cars. We strongly recommend that consumers follow the advice in the product’s manual; don’t leave it charging unattended and be aware of the temperature guidelines. These are the same precautions advised for most lithium-ion battery-powered products.” For brands like Zoomo that have e-bikes on the streets being used by multiple users, education is important to keep the bikes in top shape and reduce any likelihood of battery misuse. “With two different core customers - individual gig
workers and enterprises - we ensure that our approach to battery safety and education is tailored to the different needs and use cases of each customer. “We work closely with the world’s leading delivery companies to ensure that they incentivise their riders to use certified, safe vehicles when conducting work for their platforms. We have collaborated with our partners on numerous schemes to ensure there is a greater understanding of the factors that will create a safer environment for riders’ needs. This includes educating which vehicles and batteries are unsafe, how batteries need to be stored, as well as working on progressive solutions to meet delivery needs.” The fact is, that while
there can be many standards for battery safety, enforcing them on non-OEM products needs to be a priority if the perception of battery safety is to improve and a reduction of (albeit rare) fires to be had. ●
www.bikebiz.com
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