Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the risk of spontaneous combustion of e-scooter batteries.
We require e-scooters taking part in the rental trials to meet the following description with regard to e-scooter battery safety: “The vehicle and its components of the electrical system including the battery, shall be so designed, constructed and fitted as to minimise and protect against the risk of electrolyte leakage, fire, explosion, electric shock and to ensure electromagnetic compatibility.”
We have been liaising with operators and local authorities involved in the trials to ensure that appropriate safety measures are put in place to mitigate against any risk.
We are also coordinating with a number of government departments, including the Office for Product Safety and Standards at BEIS, to ensure that battery safety is considered as part of future regulations for both private and rental e-scooters entering the UK market.