‘Save lives’: $800k fines to be brought in for e-bikes and e-scooters in a regulation crackdown

People could be fined more than $800,000 if they fail to comply with new standards on lithium-ion battery powered e-bikes and e-scooters as part of a major crackdown tipped to “save lives”. Fire and Rescue NSW have responded to 54 fires related to e-bikes, e-scooters e-skateboards and hoverboards this year alone, including one that resulted in two deaths. A lithium-ion battery fire in Lake Macquarie killed two people in February, while a man was taken to hospital in a separate incident after an e-bike battery caught fire inside a Bankstown apartment in March. Lithium-ion batteries are the fastest growing cause of fires in NSW, while the sale of e-mobility devices increased by 322 per cent in 2022 compared to 2020. The NSW state government has announced it will introduce new product standards, including new testing, certification and labelling requirements. Sellers of the devices could face fines of up to $825,000 for failing to meet the new standards. NSW Minister for Fair Trading and Better Regulation Anoulack Chanthivong said the move could help “save lives”. “We’re acting ahead of other jurisdictions because unregulated products are posing a huge risk to property and in some cases, lives,” he said. “Our action to ensure these products meet strict safety criteria will help save lives and protect property.” NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann said the new rules are “critical to saving lives and protecting consumers”. “As we work towards the final stage of the implementation of these product standards, NSW Fair Trading will be actively monitoring and carrying out compliance activities to ensure traders and manufacturers get on board,” she said. The NSW government is set to formally request the regulation of the products be put on the national agenda ahead of the next federal and state Consumer Ministers Nework meeting. The new regulations, which can be found on the Fair Trading website, will be introduced as part of a staged process from February 2025. It comes after multiple people were evacuated from Chippendale apartments after a dodgy lithium battery reportedly caught fire in May. About 50 residents were evacuated after emergency services were called to the Shepherd St business, after reports from concerned residents in the area. A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson at the time said firefighters found smoke billowing from behind a roller shutter door of an e-bike store on the ground floor. “Firefighters identified a lithium battery they suspect was the cause of the fire,” the spokesman said, “It had been damaged, they submerged it in water. “It’s a timely reminder that people who are charging lithium battery banks should only do so when they’re supervised.” NRMA director of Policy and Public Affairs Robert Giltinan said the increasing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries has sparked concern. “We commend the NSW Government for working with stakeholders and for taking decisive action to implement stringent product standards, testing protocols and certification requirements to enhance safety,” he said. “It is crucial that these measures be adopted nationally, and we fully support the NSW Government’s initiative to place this regulation on the national agenda to create a unified approach across Australia.” However, Bicycle Industries Australia general manager Peter Bourke said e-bikes and e-scooters are “fantastic mobility solutions” and can improve health, reduce congestion and harmful tailpipe emissions. “The vast majority of products on the market are safe, utilising similar battery cells to laptops and phones and Bicycle Industries Australia (BIA) supports the direction of the NSW Minister to ensure that all products meet the required quality standards,” he said. BeyondWords NewsComAu Alice's voice