As Micromobility Grows, So Does the Focus on Battery Safety

Key Points

• E-bike and electric scooter safety remains a growing focus as the U.S. e-bike market expands, increasing the need for consumer education on lithium-ion battery safety.
• UL Solutions safety expert Rob Slone shared guidance with major media outlets, emphasizing the importance of certified products, batteries and chargers, and safe charging practices.
• Independent safety certification helps consumers identify e-bikes, electric scooters and chargers that have undergone testing for safety and performance.

As e-bikes and electric scooters become more popular, there is a growing need to educate consumers about lithium-ion battery safety. With the U.S. e-bike market reaching an estimated $3.78 billion in 2025 and projected to hit $5.78 billion by 2031, numerous media outlets have highlighted safety guidance for micromobility devices.

Members of the media often seek comments from Rob Slone, UL Solutions senior vice president and chief scientist and innovation officer, who is an authority on e-bike and battery safety. Slone frequently offers insights on how to purchase, charge and use micromobility products, while also emphasizing that independent safety certification can help reduce risk.

Slone recently shared his expertise with Tom's Guide, CNET, CBS News Colorado and The New York Times' Wirecutter. In these interviews, Slone provided several tips for consumers, including the following:

• Choose products that have been independently tested and certified by companies such as UL Solutions
• Only use batteries and chargers designed to work with the specific product
• Follow proper charging and storage practices

According to Slone, problems can arise when consumers use incompatible aftermarket batteries or chargers that were not designed to work with a product's electrical system. He noted that there is no universal battery or charger currently available for this segment of products.

Slone highlighted the importance of certification in helping consumers identify products that have undergone safety testing. He emphasized the importance of the UL Mark, which indicates that a product has been evaluated by UL Solutions for compliance with applicable safety and performance requirements.

The recent media coverage also spotlighted the role that safety standards and consumer education can play in reducing battery-related incidents.

Product recommendations from leading consumer outlets, including Wirecutter, increasingly emphasize safety certifications alongside performance, range and price when evaluating micromobility devices.

Additional links to the recent articles are below:

• Tom's Guide, "Don't Get Burned"
• CNET, "E-Bike Fires Are Down, but Riders Still Make One Dangerous Mistake"
• CBS News Colorado, "Coloradans Lured by Promise of Free E-Bike Left with Questions About Delays, Safety and More"
• Wirecutter, "The Best Electric Scooter"

Additional details about the UL Mark are available in the article "Is There an E-Bike in Your Future?"

More information about how UL Solutions helps companies bring safer products to market is available on the Micromobility Device Evaluation, Testing and Certification page at UL.com.