Newark Town Council committee supported a lithium batteries safety campaign proposed by Lord Foster and Electrical Safety First

A bill to improve the safety of Lithium batteries used in e-scooters and similar products has been supported by a council committee.

The proposal aims to ensure safety in the use and disposal of the batteries.

It is being promoted by Lord Foster and Electrical Safety First, a UK charity dedicated to reducing the deaths and injuries caused by electricity.

Members of the finance and governance committee at Newark Town Council formally supported the legislation at a meeting on Wednesday (July 17).

If the bill is approved, it would require a third-party safety assessment, conducted by a government-approved body, for all e-bikes, e-scooters, and their lithium-ion batteries before they enter the UK market.

This process mirrors safety measures in place for other high-risk products like fireworks and heavy machinery.

The second clause of the proposed legislation requires the Government to make regulations to ensure the safe disposal of lithium batteries once their lifecycle ends.

The third clause assigns the Government the responsibility of comprehensively addressing fire-related concerns.

This includes enhancing safe usage, charging and storage practices for these devices. It involves setting standards for conversion kits and charging systems and considering a temporary ban on the sale of universal chargers that heighten fire risks.

David Moore suggested: “I think we should ask for an annual MOT on these batteries and the chargers because I agree with it and that they should be looked after properly probably get made in the UK but I would still like, as with motor vehicles, an MOT of some sort so we know we have got safe batteries going around.”

The council has received an email from Lord Foster’s representative, Ron Bailey that read: “As you will probably know lithium battery fires are on the increase – there have been over 1,000 in the past few years, nearly 200 injuries and a dozen fatalities.

“Homes have been destroyed.

“The cost to the UK runs into billions of pounds. You will doubtless know of examples in your area.”

The bill has the support of national organisations including the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Royal Society for Public Health.