NREL Has Just Issued A Ban On All E-Bikes And E-Scooters Inside Its Facilities. Here’s Why (2024)
We all know that electric bicycles are an integral part of the urban mobility infrastructure of many countries all over the world. In Europe and Asia, several countries are giving aggressive incentives to folks who opt to make the switch to commuting on two wheels. The growing number of infrastructure projects that have cycling as part of their core is also evidence of this.
With all the developments surrounding e-bikes—most of them positive—why is it that some organizations and institutions are taking a backwards approach when it comes to e-bikes? For example, Electrek recently reported that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has just rolled out a blanket ban that prevents allelectric bicyclesand scooters from being stored inside.
Yes, NREL, an organization dedicated to finding energy solutions for the future has just banned all e-bikes and e-scooters. How ironic is that?
According to Electrek’s report, NREL’s hardline approach towards e-mobility devices stems from safety issues, more specifically, fires. Indeed, e-bike fires have proven to be deadly and difficult to control due to the chemicals and elements found in their batteries, so NREL’s concerns aren't a 100% unfounded.
Nicholas Barlett, NREL’s fire marshall, told Electrek that “The data in the past few years shows an alarming trend of injuries and deaths, as demonstrated by entities such as NYFD and the UL Fire Safety Research Institute. The fires and explosions are attributed to a wide variety of causes such as mismatched chargers, overcharging, uncertified/Listed batteries, poor manufacturing quality, homemade devices, etc. We cannot necessarily control what people purchase and use, but in some instances, we are able to put restrictions on where and how an activity can be done (and we routinely do for everything from experiments with chemicals to fall protection).”
Electric bicycle and other e-mobility-related fires are nothing new, and we’ve tackled a good number of these issues in plenty of articles in the past. At the end of the day, I don’t think blanket bans are the solution to this problem, but rather, ensuring that all electric bicycles sold to the public conform to safety standards that undergo rigorous testing – certifications from organizations like TUV or UL should be more than enough to provide the necessary peace of mind for people to embrace e-bikes as a whole. Needless to say, this is so much easier said than done, as there’s the factor of backyard mechanics and electricians tinkering with their e-bikes’ motors and batteries.
It’s important to note that despite prohibiting e-bikes within its premises, NREL isn’t banning its employees from riding e-bikes to work. The organization is reportedly setting up outdoor charging stations and parking areas for e-bike riding employees and visitors to use. These charging areas are located at a “reasonable distance from building entrances.”
At the same time, it’s also important to understand that the nature of NREL’s business is to find alternative energy solutions, and sometimes, this work entails dealing with sensitive and flammable chemicals. This could also be one of the reasons for the institute’s strict approach towards e-bikes.
While it seems that NREL has had no other choice but to implement a blanket ban on all e-bikes from being stored and charged indoors, we sure hope that this will change in the future, as more and more e-bike manufacturers build up their tech and vye for third-party certification. What do you think? Is a blanket ban on e-bikes too drastic of a measure? Or are NREL’s fears justifiable?
This headline has been updated to make NREL's policy on e-bikes more clear.
Yes, NREL, an organization dedicated to finding energy solutions for the future has just banned all e-bikes and e-scooters. How ironic is that? According to Electrek's report, NREL's hardline approach towards e-mobility devices stems from safety issues, more specifically, fires.
Make sure that there's nothing around it that could catch on fire. Don't charge in or near living-spaces like bedrooms or living rooms. Charge in an open area like a garage or shed, away from exits. Only charge on hard surfaces that can't catch on fire like concrete floors or tiles.
The prevailing concern about allowing electric bicycles on trails is the question of safety—particularly related to speed. The perception is that motor-assisted riders will race down trails, making them dangerous and unpleasant for other types of users.
Electric bikes use one car-sized lead acid battery per year. Each battery represents 30-40 percent of its lead content emitted to the environment in the production processes, resulting in about 3 kilograms of lead emitted per battery produced.
Those with e-scooter injuries are more likely to be treated and released (85%) than those with e-bike (81%) or bicycle injuries (79%), although not by a large margin. Fire-related injuries from a lithium battery explosion were present in one of the e-bike injuries (0.2%) and two of the e-scooter injuries (0.2%).
The e-bikes most at risk of catching fire are those that have been modified or charged incorrectly, or those from third-party online sellers which do not meet safety regulations.
While it might seem counterintuitive, electric bikes, or e-bikes as they're called, provide more health benefits than some people might realize. Stronger muscles, improved longevity, better heart health, and arriving at a location relatively sweat-free are all proven plusses.
According to Electrek's report, NREL's hardline approach towards e-mobility devices stems from safety issues, more specifically, fires. Indeed, e-bike fires have proven to be deadly and difficult to control due to the chemicals and elements found in their batteries, so NREL's concerns aren't a 100% unfounded.
But the injuries sustained from electric bikes are more likely to be more severe, with a higher chance of internal organ damage (like those that you might get from riding a motorcycle). Not only that, but younger riders on electric bikes are also more likely to injure other people, like pedestrians.
Class 1: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. Class 2: eBikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted. Class 3: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.
Even more important, storing a fully depleted battery may be disastrous because, as we mentioned above, a lithium-ion battery will slowly discharge over time even when you're not using it. If the voltage drops below a certain point this may cause irreparable cell damage, depending on the time it's left sitting.
In 2024, although the electric bike has many advantages, it is important to consider its disadvantages before making a purchase. High cost, weight and handling, limited range, safety and theft concerns, legal restrictions and the environmental impact of batteries are all factors to consider.
When lithium-ion batteries are damaged, they can overheat, catch on fire, and even lead to explosions. When fires occur, they also tend to burn very hot and can be difficult for firefighters to extinguish.
The speed limit for electric scooters in most places is under 20 mph. Range is generally better for e-bikes, as they have larger batteries and can travel farther on a single charge, and pedal assist e bikes depend on human power as well as electric and can still take you home if the battery dies.
Batteries can be damaged by dropping them or crashing e-bikes or e-scooters. Where the battery is damaged, it can overheat and catch fire without warning. Check your battery regularly for any signs of damage and if you suspect it is damaged it should be replaced and should not be used or charged.
Electric bicycles require regular maintenance to ensure they work properly. Electronic components and batteries can be expensive to maintain and repair. Battery failures, motor problems and repairs to electronic control systems can represent significant additional expenses.
If you're storing your electric bicycle inside, then you should remove and store the battery separate from the e-bike. This will prevent the battery from draining completely and damaging itself.
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