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.

 

[m@Robertson]

I get the feeling the FL fires this time around are going to be one of those things - like boarding up the windows - that FL/Gulf residents are going to take for granted once they become used to the idea and know to deal with it.

 

[Chargeride]

Still selling flamethrowers.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Still selling flamethrowers.

Pardon our interruption...

But those are gas though.

 

[kevinmccune]

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.

the moral is dont throw your toaster radio or any electric appliance in the bathtub- on the subject of battery fires,i commented once on the difficulty of extinguishing metal fires,some Einstein wrote back those batteries use ions not metal,wtf? where did Jimmy Nuetron think the ions originated?

 

[Chargeride]

The batteries and the controllers, shunts chargers are all sealed, theres lots of safety cicuitry to stop outside electrics comprimising the battery, but its a waiting game and all EVs need storing in isolation for weeks after being flooded.
Ice car, just disconnect the battery and stack them high.

Imagine the logistics for thousands of EVs being flooded, even dismantling them is high risk, the latest Teslas are
800 volts !!!

 

[February]

Maybe because batteries are being built domestically in home countries now. They just built a new battery plant for evs about an hour from where I live. Also, I have to believe you guys have battery stores?
Again there is a retail battery store about an hour away from where I live that can either replace or rebuild any ebike battery. Batteries all kinds of batteries, that's all they do. oh they sell lights too. Not saying it's cheap, just saying, battery replacement is not something I worry about. Saw a video of one of those salt based battery packs being switched out on a semi. Truck pulls up and the swap takes like a minute or less.

 

[Chargeride]

These new manganese batteries are becoming a thing, even Edison trucks are moving to them.
Proper small team Canadian Electric truck company.

Edison Motors

Edison Motors is a privately owned Canadian Clean Technology Company. In 2022, Edison built North America’s first diesel electric hybrid logging truck. Edison Motors aims to produce Electric Hybrid Vocational Trucks & EV Conversion Kits that deliver fuel savings without compromise. We have com

www.edisonmotors.ca

 

[Stefan Mikes]

No-one is safe even if a Li-ion battery is certified for safety.

My first battery for Vado was actually 7 years old since the manufactured date (It was in the active state for less than five years). On one day, the charger reported a battery error and refused charging past some 40%. I touched the battery and it was hot in a single place: a single cell broke out of control! It was good the charger and the BMS were intelligent enough to notice the error. I lived in fear for the next three days. For the nights, I was wrapping the battery in a thin waterproof film and was carrying the battery off the civilization (not far away!) During the daytime, I was trying to discharge the battery on the e-bike. Eventually, the battery got totally discharged, and the problematic spot became cold.

My attempt to fix the battery at a professional service failed: No-one wanted to touch a proprietary e-bike battery. Eventually, I gave the battery out for its disposal.

If a good battery from a respectable manufacturer could get out of control, I even do not what to think what would have happened if it were Chinese cr*p.

 

[Chargeride]

Various outlets are using very careful wording,..a lithium device with attached charging cord.

Just lol

A brand new German fire station that burned down did not have a fire alarm system

A new fire station in central Germany, which was destroyed in a fire, causing millions of euros in damage and destroyed equipment did not have a fire alarm system, local media is reporting

www.independent.co.uk

 

[kevinmccune]

Various outlets are using very careful wording,..a lithium device with attached charging cord.

Just lol

A brand new German fire station that burned down did not have a fire alarm system

A new fire station in central Germany, which was destroyed in a fire, causing millions of euros in damage and destroyed equipment did not have a fire alarm system, local media is reporting

www.independent.co.uk

I will say this,and its not dissing anyone because the local volunteer fire fighters do a good job,an old 2 story house was almost destroyed almost directly across the road from the (then) local volunteer fire dept,would send a picture if I could[I surely would], thought I had a practical work around for first responders,pay a couple fulltime( that apparently is not working because of the jealousy and anomosity it creates) so my next thought would be keep the full timers and pay the volunteer responders for their time( works pretty good on the gov't forest and) so I don't know[ you can please some of the people;]

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Various outlets are using very careful wording,..a lithium device with attached charging cord.

Just lol

A brand new German fire station that burned down did not have a fire alarm system

A new fire station in central Germany, which was destroyed in a fire, causing millions of euros in damage and destroyed equipment did not have a fire alarm system, local media is reporting

www.independent.co.uk

Well, if they were over budget on the current quarter, they would have to wait until next quarters budget to make purchases. /s #PennyPinchingBoss