Europe Increasing Safety Standards On Commercial Cargo E-Bikes

Babboe, a maker of cargo bikes and cargo e-bikes, recently issued a recall of 22,000 of its cargo bikes and e-bikes due to frame failures and hairline cracks appearing in the frames. The company has been accused of trying to hide the severity and extent of the problem by hiding broken frames from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The episode has been dubbed “cargobikegate,” and has spawned a criminal investigation. It has also been cited as an example for why Europe has needed more stringent testing standards for cargo bikes and cargo e-bikes sold in the EU.

Those calling for increased safety will soon see new standards implemented. The new rules, set forth in EN 17860, will differentiate between cargo e-bikes in private vs. those in commercial use. The standard will also cover “double-track” cargo bikes and e-bikes (trikes) as well as electric trailers.

Among the changes in testing will be an increase in the number of cycles when testing for pedaling force. Previously the test was conducted for 100,000 cycles, but now it has doubled to 200,000.

If the e-bike is to be used commercially, i.e., as a work device, the relevant rules for ergonomics will also be enforced. Cargo e-bikes will be tested for stability at speeds of 15km/h and 25km/h with a 1-3 percent downslope on a dry surface and with a wind speed of less than 3m/s. The test will be performed three times: rider only, rider with 50 percent weight capacity and rider with 100 percent weight capacity. The stability standard will also take into account how stable the cargo e-bike is when parked. The tests will be performed with no load and 100 percent loaded.

These standards relate to the design of the cargo bike or e-bike itself, and not to the electronics. The electronics, including both battery and motor, for cargo e-bikes will still be evaluated according to EN 15194, an existing standard that all e-bikes sold in the EU are required to meet.