London Councils is calling on the government to fast-track new regulations to curb the growing sale of unsafe e-bikes, uncertified lithium-ion batteries and illegal conversion kits, warning that
the surge in poorly modified vehicles is putting riders and the public at increasing risk.
The plea comes during Road Safety Week, as boroughs report a sharp rise in e-bikes that have been illegally altered to reach speeds of up to 70mph—making them motorbikes in the eyes of the law and requiring a licence, insurance, registration and a helmet.
Boroughs, which manage 95% of London’s roads, say the government should use powers in the recently passed Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to tighten rules on online marketplaces and strengthen enforcement. They want clearer legal responsibilities for online sellers, greater resources for Trading Standards, and powers for officers to issue on-the-spot fines and immediately remove dangerous products from sale.
Councils are also urging the government to update official collision reporting (STATS19) so crashes involving illegal e-bikes can be accurately recorded.
The concerns come amid a concerning rise in battery-related fires. The London Fire Brigade has responded to a dramatic increase in incidents involving lithium-ion batteries, with four deaths in the capital linked to unsafe charging or modified e-bikes.
While boroughs acknowledge the importance of e-bikes for affordable, low-carbon travel—particularly for delivery riders in the expanding gig economy—they warn that the trend is being undermined by a flood of unsafe and non-road-legal machines.
To help tackle the issue, London Councils and Transport for London have launched a new digital safety factsheet for Road Safety Week. Distributed through major delivery platforms and borough networks, the guide offers practical advice on spotting legal e-bikes, safe charging and storage, and what to do if a 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.”
Boroughs stress that they remain committed to supporting active and low-carbon travel. But they warn that without stronger safeguards, the rapid growth of e-bikes risks being overshadowed by avoidable harm—a problem they say the government can no longer ignore. Photo by Jim.henderson, Wikimedia commons.