Industry Update
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering a federal safety standard for lithium-ion batteries and electrical systems used in micromobility products, including electric bicycles. The proposed rule is intended to address hazards such as thermal runaway, fires, explosions, burns and smoke inhalation. It would cover complete e-bike electrical systems as well as certain user-replaceable battery packs, aftermarket chargers and e-bike conversion-kit components.
Standards and Proposed Requirements
· E-bike electrical systems: ANSI/CAN/UL 2849:2020 is a core referenced standard.
· User-replaceable light-EV battery packs: ANSI/CAN/UL/ULC 2271:2023 is referenced.
· The proposal adds or strengthens tests related to battery enclosures, post-discharge charging, reverse polarity and safety labeling.
· The rulemaking could turn currently voluntary safety benchmarks into mandatory federal requirements for covered products sold in the United States.
Why It Matters for E-Bike Suppliers
For manufacturers exporting to the United States, battery-system compliance is becoming a central market-access issue rather than only a retailer preference. Product development should increasingly treat the battery, BMS, charger, wiring, connectors and enclosure as one safety system. Suppliers should also maintain traceable test reports and component documentation and avoid assuming that a battery certificate alone is sufficient for the complete e-bike electrical system.