UL Certified Ebikes and Ebike Batteries: Full List
While shopping around for ebikes, you may be seeing references to “UL Certification.” Or maybe you’re shopping for an ebike or ebike battery that is UL listed. Let’s talk about what UL certification means, why it’s important, and where some of the top ebike brands stand in regard to UL certification.
Ebikes use a lithium battery similar to many other common household items such as cell phones, laptops, and electric toothbrushes. In rare cases, ebike batteries can get hot and even cause fires. This can happen when ebike batteries get damaged, are charged improperly or are stored incorrectly. While ebike batteries aren’t inherently dangerous it’s important to follow all recommendations from the ebike manufacturer. Some estimate that less than 15% of ebikes sold in the US have UL certification.
It is unclear how often ebikes cause fires but in New York City alone, fires number into the hundreds per year. Check out the National Fire Protection Associations’ thoughts on ebike safety, including tips to stay safe. And if you’re looking for a fire-resistant bag check out the Bikase Battery Bag. (Amazon or 15% using code “ebikeescape15” on Bikase.com). They are also available in size large.
What is UL certification for ebikes?
UL certification is a way for consumers to know that their bikes’ batteries and electrical components are safe. This certification helps minimize fire risk and includes a review of the electrical drive train system, battery, and charger. UL 2849 certification says nothing about the roadworthiness of the ebike and is not a full evaluation of the bike but rather an endorsement of safety on the electrical aspects.
Another certification is UL 2271 which relates specifically to the battery on an ebike as opposed to all electrical systems. UL 2849 is all-encompassing and you may find ebike companies which have only certified their battery.
There are currently no national regulations around requirements for UL certification for ebikes in the US. Likely due to recent large fires, places such as New York City now require UL certification. Ebike companies are being encouraged by the CPSC to meet these standards as a way to increase safety voluntarily. If the request for voluntary compliance isn’t sufficient, a mandatory endorsement may be required in the future. Please note that while some ebikes might not be UL certified, the charger may be UL Listed.
So where do the different ebike companies stand? Learn more about which ebikes are UL certified below and if you’re in ebike company, get in touch to be added to this list.
Aventon Ebikes: TUV certified in accordance with UL 2849
According to Aventon, their ebikes are TUV certified in accordance with UL 2849. This assures consumers that the Aventon bikes have been certified to meet critical electrical and fire safety standards. You can make sure your model is covered by clicking here.
Aventon has an excellent article about taking care of your battery. It covers all the basics of charging and care for your ebike battery, which will decrease fire risk and increase the life of your battery regardless of UL certification.
Check out our reviews of Aventon ebikes here.
Rad Power Bikes: Moving Towards UL Certification
Rad Power Bikes is not a brand-new company and currently holds the title of the largest seller of ebikes in North America. They had been following the European standard, EN 15194, which was available before ebikes took off in the US. We are glad they are also embracing UL 2849 and look forward to updates on their progress. Check out some of our Rad Power Bikes reviews here.
It is a goal of ours to certify all of our bikes to UL 2849 standards as they are released in the future. It takes time to set up the processes to get this certification and our quality team is working on it diligently.
.Rad Power Bikes
Are E-bike Batteries Interchangeable?
In general, the answer is no – you should only replace a battery with one that comes from the same manufacturer and is of exactly the same spec.
The reason is that the original e-bike or kit manufacturer has the responsibility to ensure that the battery pack, charger, and e-bike all work safely together, and using a ‘non-original’ replacement pack potentially introduces all sorts of uncontrolled risks.
It’s a little more complicated than this in some situations. For example, some Bosch batteries of different capacities are explicitly made to be interchangeable and there will be many instances where an original supplier and/or manufacturer of the e-bike cannot be traced or has gone out of business – in such cases we look at your options below.
As an important side note: you should always, if possible, use a charger that comes from the original manufacturer too. The one that comes with your battery should sync up well and not overload the battery. Pairing your battery with a different charger adds in risk of malfunction during charging.
Let’s first look at the basics of getting a replacement battery for your e-bike, then we will look at some of the major manufacturers of e-bike batteries and some of the main e-bike manufacturers to see which common battery types are still replaceable. Let’s consider the options for replacement in terms of desirability.
Where Should I Go to Get a Replacement E-Bike Battery?
On this last point it may help to note that there are a couple of manufacturing standards for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes. Although it’s not a legal requirement, it may be that one of the standards is actually marked on the battery itself.
The standards are BS EN 50604‑1 and UN38.3, the latter required for lithium-ion battery transport by air, sea or land. Just because these standards are not marked on a battery doesn’t mean it does not comply with them – but it is a reassuring sign if a battery does bear one or both of these marks.
Note that using a replacement battery that does not come from the original manufacturer (whether a dealer is involved or not) may void the warranty of your electric bike or kit. Check with the e-bike or kit company to understand what their policy is regarding the use of aftermarket replacement batteries.
Replacement Batteries from Original Manufacturers
Bosch E-Bike Batteries
Only Bosch manufactured batteries will be used on any new Bosch e-bike – this has always been the case and so it makes advice on interchangeability a little more straightforward than with the likes of Shimano and Brose who have both allowed the use of third party batteries with their mid-drive motor systems.
There have been four basic designs made by Bosch over the years (good online overview here):
- Rack mounted batteries: PowerPack in 300, 400, and 500 Wh versions which are all interchangeable with each other.
- Down tube mounted batteries: PowerPack in 300, 400, and 500 Wh versions, current versions of which are all interchangeable with each other.
- Frame integrated batteries: PowerTubes in 400, 500, and 625Wh versions, with the 400 and 500 units being interchangeable with each other. The 625Wh may be retrofittable but it needs a compatible frame with a big enough space to house it (400 and 500 units are the same physical dimensions but 625 is bigger). 500 and 625 Wh units are used on the Dual Battery system to give a capacity up to 1250Wh.
- Frame Integrated ‘Smart’ Option batteries: This is a new 750Wh option for 2022 and will be only compatible with 2022 e-bikes that feature the Bosch ‘Smart’ system and will not be compatible with other Bosch e-bikes that are ‘non-Smart’. Similarly, other types of PowerTube batteries (400, 500, and 625Wh versions) will not be compatible with e-bikes featuring Bosch’s ‘Smart’ system.
Some third-party batteries compatible with Bosch systems are available as detailed in the section below.
There are some suppliers of batteries that will fit older models, in some cases dating back to 2011 when the Bosch e-bikes first entered the market, for example, The Holland Bike Shop in Europe sells some batteries compatible with much older Bosch-powered models.
Shimano E-Bike Batteries
Shimano produces its own brand batteries for use on their systems, but you may also find new e-bikes powered by Shimano motor systems with batteries manufactured by their licensed partners Darfon and SMP. These third party batteries are not interchangeable with any Shimano batteries.
Shimano’s current range includes rack-mounted, downtube-mounted and frame-integrated batteries from 418Wh to 630Wh. You can see a brief overview with detailed links to each battery on offer here.
It’s important to note that each battery model has a limited number of specific battery mounts it will work with, so it is important to replace an old battery with one that is compatible with the mount on your e-bike. You can check out detailed compatibility info here and here.
Shimano says that ‘the oldest current battery we have is the BT-E6000 and the corresponding battery mount BM-E6000. These are compatible with all five of our current drive units (DU-EP8/E8000/E7000/E6100/E5000), but not earlier systems. For reference, DU-E8000 is the oldest in that list – it was introduced in 2016.’
Brose E-Bike Batteries
The only battery listed on Brose’s own website is a 630Wh frame-integrated option.
However, Brose systems are widely used by other manufacturers who also spec own-brand or third-party batteries. These include the likes of the widely respected battery manufacturer BMZ and well-known brands like Scott and BULLS.
For example, Specialized’s ‘full power’ range use Brose-based mid drives and a range of their own brand frame-integrated batteries. Although information on interchangeability is scarce, a Specialized FAQ page, in response to the question ‘Can I increase range by using the 604Wh aftermarket battery in any Turbo Vado/Como?’ says yes, all Vado batteries are cross-compatible as long as you are running the latest firmware (by implication so are Como and Turbo full power batteries are cross-compatible too).
The above appears only to address compatibility on current Specialized models and battery availability for older models appears a bit more complex with lots of debate online over the matter.
Battery Pack Settings and Functions
There are a number of settings available on the power pack. You access these through a few buttons on the top of the unit. You can reset to factory defaults, change the motor direction from forward to reverse, and set a limit on power. The five power limit levels range from 60% to 100% in 10% increments, with 80% the default. You can also set the top speed. The default is 15mph / 25kph, which is the UK and EU limit for ebikes without formal registration. There are four higher speeds, although Swytch doesn’t say what they correspond to. The final option, and the one you will definitely need to check and adjust if necessary, is for wheel size. The options are 16in 20in, 24in, 26in or 28in. The default is 24in so we had to move this up a notch.
When in operation, the LEDs on the top of the pack show remaining charge and power setting, which you can use the arrows to increase or lower. To turn on the light on the PRO pack, you have to hold the up button on the top of the unit. The light isn’t hugely bright but its good to have it there since the pack sits where you would want to install your own. Installing the pack and removing it from the front of the bike is extremely easy, though. This is great if you go somewhere and leave the bike outside. You can take the expensive battery pack off and take it with you for safekeeping.
Riding and Performance
Getting the ebike motor going is as simple as starting to pedal. Unless you have a throttle controller, you vary the motor speed by simply pedalling faster or slower. It then cuts out when you stop pedalling. If you have the brake sensors, triggering a brake with a sensor attached will cut the power immediately, even if you are still pedalling. So in theory you will stop more responsively.
In practice, we never felt this element was lacking. The bike essentially behaved like it had before, only with less effort. The extra pull from the front wheel was subtle and extremely easy to get used to. The motor has 250W of motive power and 40Nm of torque. This gives it plenty of power to haul a rider and some luggage if you have any up a hill, but not so much power that you feel things are getting out of control, unless you try and pedal round a sharp corner, where having motive power pointed in multiple direction is a little disorientating. However, our heavy mountain bike felt much nimbler in its new motorised form. The motor is also so quiet that its inaudible over tyre, chain and environmental noise.
The battery weights about 1.5kg and the motor 1.5kg, so you have added 3kg to the weight of the bike. With the motor running, though, you won’t notice at all. You can still ride the bike with the motor turned off, which is handy if you run out of power before getting to your destination. We tried this and the extra weight made our Dunlop bike even more of a slog, but that’s not really the point. If you ever do want to ride entirely without power, you can leave the battery behind and you’ve only added 1.5kg instead of 3kg, which isn’t very noticeable. The motor is low friction when freewheeling, so the dynamics are scarcely different.
Range and Charging
Our PRO kit’s range of 50km is rated for medium (80%) power, and that’s going to be more than enough for most regular round-trip commutes. However, with only 5 steps on the power remaining LED indicator, you don’t have much indication of how much range you have left. With the 250Wh capacity, you’re using 5Wh per km, or 8Wh per mile. On a 14p per kWh supply, this bike costs just 0.1p per mile. So this is an extremely cheap way to electrically power your journey to work.
Charging the battery pack uses a typical external 240V power adapter. This is only 2A, so charges quite slowly. The ECO power pack takes around 2.5 hours to charge and the PRO pack takes 3.5 hours. There is apparently an optional 3A fast charger, which cuts these to 1.5 and 2 hours respectively. However, although these are quite lengthy periods for the battery capacity, even if your workplace is 50km away, you would have no problem recharging during a day’s work for the journey home.
Tech review: Swytch kit
What’s on your New Year’s resolution this year? Assuming you believe in making resolutions, getting more active is likely to figure.
Changing the daily commute to a bike ride is possible for some of us. However, if you aren’t an experienced cyclist, the idea of tackling it twice daily might be a little daunting. There are compromises, but electric bikes can prove too expensive, especially with the current cost-of-living crisis to take account of.
Enter the Swytch Kit, which can be fitted to a regular bike quickly and easily, and costs significantly less than buying a new, purpose-made electric bike. Aimed at those who already have a decent bike and don’t want to invest in a rather expensive replacement, the Swytch Kit transforms your manual bike into an electric one with some relatively quick upgrades.
The kit is compatible with different types of bikes, from mountain bikes to step-throughs to road bikes, and will work with both rim and disc brake bikes.
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It consists of a wheel, a 250W geared hub motor and a pedal sensor that detects your speed of travel and decides what power is delivered from the power pack. The Swytch kit has already been through one iteration, with a handlebar bag that contained the battery pack; the updated kit shrinks the battery considerably. That makes it a bit less conspicuous on the bike, and easier to pop in your bag – or – if you are parking it in a public place.
The version reviewed here was supplied as an upgrade to the existing Swytch that we reviewed last year. That made the process a little simpler, but if you are starting from scratch, it‘s not too difficult to add the Swytch Kit to your existing bike. It might take a bit of time and twiddling, but there are plenty of videos on the website to guide you through the process. Even with minimal bike maintenance experience, it is easy enough to swap out the wheel and fit the pedal sensor. The power pack is held on the front of the bike with a special mount.
Run out of juice and it is highly likely that you will still be able to trundle along under your own steam without too much extra effort
The main features remain the same: the only thing that’s changed is the size of the power pack. The new kits have two options: the Air, which offers 15km range, or the tablet-sized Max, which has up to 30km in range. The ideal battery will be dependent on what works for you; if 15km will comfortably cover your round-trip, you can stick with the smartphone-sized battery, and if not, the Max isn’t hugely bigger in size. Both are much thinner than the original battery pack, so it’s a decent improvement, and you can easily carry another battery pack if needed, as they weigh as little as 700g.
One issue with some – not all – electric bikes is that the weight of the battery makes it tough to use when it inevitably runs out at the wrong moment. You don’t have the same issue with the Swytch kit, as the battery and associated motor are so lightweight, you barely notice they are there. Run out of juice and it is highly likely that you will still be able to trundle along under your own steam without too much extra effort.
A smaller power pack makes the kit more convenient, especially if you frequently park the bike in public. It’s also quick to charge, and the Swytch is reasonably easy to set up. All in all, you can get going in under an hour.
It’s well priced, especially compared to a new electric bike, and if you already own a good bike it means you don’t have to find the storage space for a second bike just for commuting.
Less isn’t always more. The new power pack offers a shorter range than its predecessor, which might mean carrying a charger or spare battery on the commute to work to ensure you can get home. That means paying out for extra packs – and remembering to carry them, plus the charger.
There are different versions of the kit available, so make sure you choose the right one for your bike. It depends on your wheel size, which for Swytch can range from 16 inches to 29 inches, and there are also foldable bike versions.
If you check out the website, you can find offers to get up to 50 per cent off the price of the kit.
An excellent way to electrify your existing bike.
Can you customize the Swytch eBike Converter Kit?
Indeed you can. One of the best features of the Swytch eBike Converter Kit is the various customizable options and accessories.
For example, the swap-in motor wheel is built to your specifications as custom. All you need to do is give them your preferred, or required, wheel size, and Swytch will take care of the rest.
The kit’s wheel normally comes in a standard silver finish, but you can request one in matt black instead. This includes the motor (of course, rims and spokes of the wheel.)
There is a small fee for this particular service, but it’s worth it.
With regards to extras, the kit has some very interesting added extras. For example, you have the option to order a variety of handlebar throttles for the converter kit.
This comes in two main options:-
The former attaches directly to your handlebars and allows you to power the motor with a simple twist of your wrist. The latter, as the name suggests, uses a spring-loaded thumb lever to prefer the same action. This is the better option for handlebar setups with limited free space.
Another cool accessory is Swytch’s purpose-built brake sensor add-on. If you want to maximize the range of your motor battery, this kit constantly monitors your use of the bike’s brakes. When it detects that the brakes have been applied, it automatically cuts off the power to the motor.- even if you are peddling. This accessory is great for adventure cyclists, or if you find yourself in slow=moving traffic.
The brake sensor is compatible with wired and hydraulic brakes too.
For those who plan on using their new e-Bikes over longer distances than the standard setup, you can also grab yourself a spare power pack. Buy as many as you need (and can carry) to immediately give yourself an extra 31 miles (50 km) on the fly.
So, if you don’t want to part with your old bike, but need a little help at times, you can’t really go wrong with this fantastic eBike Conversion Kit. What are you waiting for?