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Ebike safety certifications

In response to concerns about ebike batteries that have caught fire, several safety certifications have been developed to rigorously test batteries and the related electrical systems to simulate abusive use and reduce risk of fire or shock. Increasing numbers of bike manufacturers are having their bikes certified or are using electrical systems from parts manufacturers that have been certified. Some US incentive programs are beginning to require a certification. 

The three certifications that we know of that address ebike electrical safety are:

  • UL 2271 - US & Canadian certification of an ebike battery . It includes requirements for safe design of the battery and includes testing for abuse by overcharging, short circuit, over-discharge, heat, water, vibration and physical shocks and a variety of other electrical faults and physical abuse. Watch for this on replacement batteries or for bikes not yet certified to UL 2849. (UL 2271 text - free registration and login required)

  • UL 2849 ~US & Canadian certification of an ebike entire electrical system, including the battery. It addresses stresses to the battery as does 2271, plus stresses to the battery management system, controller, charger and wiring and a variety of abnormal operating condition tests. Several US ebike incentive programs are beginning to require UL 2849 certification. (article by UL describing UL 2849 and the UL 2849 text - free registration and login required)

  • EN15194 - European certification that covers the entire bike - electrical and mechanical systems. 

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Certification listings

The table below lists brands that have indicated that at least some of their models have been tested to one or more of three certifications that address ebike electrical shock and fire hazards, UL 2849, EN15194, or UL2271.

We are continuing to collect information on brands that have certified and will add to this list as we learn more.

Please contact us if you learn of another manufacturer who has been certified or find any errors in our listings. 

*** Use your scroll wheel or the scroll bar at the right side of the table window to see more brands*** 

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Buyer beware. Some brands may only have certified a subset of their models and still be in process on others. Check with the dealers and look for labels on the bike to confirm certification on the specific model you are buying. Older or used bikes may predate the testing.

In some cases, what is listed here is based upon an actual certificate or a listing by the certifying organization. In other cases we are just reporting a marketing information claim from manufacturers on their websites or elsewhere. Check the Info Source column to see whether the claim is backed up with a publicly available certificate. We have found the attestations in the National Bike Dealers Association (NBDA) database to vary in usefulness. The NBDA database does not specify if all models in a brand are certified. In our research we have found that some brands use a variety of motors and batteries, some certified, some not.

Underwriters Laboratory provides a UL Prospector database of companies that have obtained certifications through UL's labs (2849 Listed, 2271 Listed, 2271 Recognized, and 2272 Listed. The UL databases, however, can be challenging to connect to retail brands. The certificate is sometimes listed in the name of Chinese OEM companies who actually manufacture the bike (or the battery in the case of UL 2271) - not the retail bike brand. Also note that the UL Prospector listings are not comprehensive as other labs test to the UL and EN standards  but have not published public lists that we are aware of identifying those they have certified.

Please let us know if you learn of other bike models that are tested andcertified.

 

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