London Councils is urging the government to introduce urgent secondary legislation to crack down on the growing sale of unsafe e-bikes, conversion kits, and uncertified lithium-ion batteries in Road Safety Week.
Boroughs, which manage 95 per cent of London’s roads, warn that while e-bikes play a vital role in helping Londoners travel more sustainably, the rapid increase in illegally modified and unsafe vehicles is putting riders and the public at serious risk.
London boroughs are calling on government to use powers granted under the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to:
• Tighten the definition of online marketplaces, making them accountable for unsafe or illegal products
• Empower Trading Standards with increased resources, stronger enforcement powers and the ability to issue on-the-spot fines and remove unsafe products from sale
Boroughs are also asking for national collision data (STATS19) to be updated so that crashes involving illegal e-bikes can be properly recorded and monitored.
Without these changes, London Councils warns that dangerous and non-compliant vehicles will continue to flood online platforms, fuelling fire risks in homes and collisions on roads.
In recent months, boroughs have seen increasing reports of converted or high-powered e-bikes reaching speeds of up to 70mph – far above legal limits. These vehicles are not e-bikes but motorbikes in law, meaning riders require a licence, registration, insurance, and must wear a helmet.
At the same time, the London Fire Brigade has responded to a sharp increase in lithium-ion battery fires, with four deaths in the capital linked to unsafe charging or modification.
The expansion of the gig economy presents opportunities for growth both across London and the country as a whole, providing jobs for thousands of people. However, boroughs have growing concerns about the risks posed to drivers and other road users when e-bikes are illegally modified.
This is why, to support safety for riders and raise awareness during Road Safety Week, London Councils and Transport for London are launching a new digital e-bike safety factsheet to help riders make informed and safe choices.
The factsheet, which will be shared with delivery riders through major platforms and via borough channels, provides clear, practical guidance on how to identify legal e-bikes, safe charging and storage, and what to do if a lithium-ion battery fails or catches fire.
Mayor Brenda Dacres OBE, London Councils’ Executive Member for Transport and Environment, said:
“We want Londoners to feel confident that when they buy or use an e-bike, it’s safe for them and for everyone around them. But right now, we’re seeing unsafe, illegally modified e-bikes and batteries sold online. This is putting Londoners lives at risk, and that simply must change. We need better oversight.
“Boroughs are doing everything they can to raise awareness, but we need further legislation on e-bikes in order to keep residents safe. There’s no doubt that e-bikes are part of London’s green future, and we will continue to champion the growth of safe and legal e-bike ridership across the capital.”
Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, said:
“Good quality e-bikes have a positive role to play in London’s sustainable transport future, offering a cleaner, greener way to travel compared to car use. It is essential that safety remains a priority for everyone sharing our streets, so we’re proud to be working with London Councils to launch a new rider safety factsheet during Road Safety Week.
“Safety is central to everything we do, and we’ve long called for proper industry regulation as we’re concerned by the growing use of unsafe and non-road-legal e-bikes which are often legally motorbikes. Secondary legislation is urgently needed to address the sale of illegally modified e-bikes, conversion kits and uncertified lithium-ion batteries, ensuring higher standards and helping people make safer decisions when purchasing e-bikes.”
