eBay (UK) to ban private e-bike sales over fire fears

[MartsEbike]

Haven't seen this topic posted on here but eBay are banning private sellers in the UK from selling ebikes/batteries on their website. I believe NYC in the US has also recently changed the rules regarding batteries.

I see this as a somewhat positive move, as obviously nobody wants shoddy components, especially poorly manufactured batteries.

Also e-bike theft is very high in places like London, and you can find many ebikes listed on ebay that are "suspect" to say the least. Just look how many are sold without a charger!

There's still Facebook Marketplace, but I'm sure the British Gov will pressure them to do the same soon.

I wonder what effect this will have on the second hand market with regards to prices. Are second hand bikes now pretty much worthless? Will we have to sell using authorised dealers?

Times are changing and looks like we will have to adapt to this new world!

Link to article - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ywq8xgkkyo

 

[6zfshdb]

Can California be far behind??

 

[m@Robertson]

The market is so depressed, anyone trying to sell an ebike for the foreseeable future is in for a rude awakening if they think they can make more than a small fraction of an ebike's sale price back. People want the freedom to do as they want, but when the reality of the market hits them in the face the ban wouldn't amount to a hill of beans.

 

[MartsEbike]

The market is so depressed, anyone trying to sell an ebike for the foreseeable future is in for a rude awakening if they think they can make more than a small fraction of an ebike's sale price back. People want the freedom to do as they want, but when the reality of the market hits them in the face the ban wouldn't amount to a hill of beans.

Yep have to agree. I'm kind of thinking I'll hold on to my current bike until the wheels fall off...

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

I wonder what companies will be authorised to sell e-bikes on eBay. How they will be regulated... what checks are done etc...

In the UK, UL 2849 (Battery safety) is apparently a "voluntary standard" rather than mandatory. I can see that changing in the future.

But then, will that limit the supply of batteries available for "China Bikes", like my Frey bike. It possibly could do.

Interesting times coming up for sure.

 

[Mike_V]

Yeah the British Government, Lessee if only it were a wonderful nice expensive Mercedes battery ...then woopsie ?

"Dozens of battery fires reported in Florida"
At least six homes in Florida have caught fire after floodwaters from Hurricanes Milton and Helene submerged and ignited the batteries of electric vehicles (EV).
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reported in a press conference that state officials have seen 16 fires so far from EVs in the Tampa Bay area alone, including Pinellas County. (Related: Florida drivers STRANDED on highways as Hurricane Milton hits: "This storm is breaking cars down.")
"One of the threats that we're very concerned with is lithium-ion battery technology – that's EVs, golf carts and scooters. These devices do not mix well with salt water," said State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis.
"If the salt water is able to bridge the gap between the positive and negative terminals of (the) battery, then it can cause a short circuit," said Tom Barth of the National Transportation Safety Board.
The phenomenon is apparently linked to just saltwater, as thermal runaway has not been observed in EVs from freshwater flooding in California.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor reminded residents in a press conference that city garages were left open and urged electric vehicle owners in particular to take advantage of the upper floors in garages to avoid flood and fire risks.
"You can put your electric vehicles up high," Castor said in the press conference. "Make sure you are elevating all those electric batteries and electric items as well because those batteries – once they start on fire – they cannot be extinguished."

As of press time, there have been at least 48 confirmed battery fires related to storm surges from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with 11 of them associated with EVs.
Seminole, Florida Fire Chief Bill Morelli reported that three of these battery fires occurred in his city. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue reported at least two, one from an electric bike and another from an all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQB300 SUV.