Is Your Ebike Battery Safe?

If you’re in the market for an ebike, you’re likely comparing features, styles, specs, and prices. But what people often overlook or don’t even understand are the finer details and safety measures that really matter.

Ebikes are growing rapidly, and many manufacturers are trying to capitalize on an electric bike gold rush. However, many of these companies are cutting corners and disregarding recommended safety measures such as UL safety standards.

These standards are important because they test your ride’s electrical system for safe riding and storage. 

At Buzz, we care about your well-being. That’s why in 2024, we took the initiative to begin certifying our models to the UL 2849 and UL 2271 standards before any state or jurisdiction was requiring it. 

So what exactly do those code names mean? Let’s break it down.

UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is an independent global safety testing organization. UL 2849 and UL 2271 are basically the gold standards for batteries, electrical systems, and design. 

This standard covers the entire electrical system of the bike. It examines the motor, wiring, charger, and software that controls the power flow. 

Focusing on the system as a whole, this series of tests checks water resistance, connection, temperature, and how seamlessly everything works together. 

These rigorous tests are designed to reduce the risk of the battery from overheating, overcharging, failing, or causing a fire. 

They closely look at the bike’s rechargeable battery pack to see if it is built with high-quality materials and protective systems.

Recently, there’s been a rising concern about electric batteries malfunctioning or catching fire. In response, more and more states and major cities are requiring ebikes to meet these standards for your protection. 

Ebikes typically use lithium-ion batteries, which were first introduced to the category in the early 2000s. 

These batteries are common in many everyday products such as electric vehicles, cell phones, laptops, and power tools. However, like many products being produced in mass quantities, they can sometimes pose a risk if not properly built or tested.

When an ebike is UL certified or compliant, it means that either an independent safety lab has tested it for real-world use, or it is following the standard without being validated. This helps give riders peace of mind knowing their bike is reliable to operate and safe to leave at home.

Keeping you safe has always been one of our top priorities when creating high-quality rides. We took our commitment seriously when we stated that all of our ebikes produced post-2023 would be certified to the UL 2849 and 2272 standards. 

Now you may be wondering, “Well, how safe are the models that were manufactured before this new initiative?” We’re happy to share that while not all of them are fully UL certified, they are still UL compliant. 

So, what’s the difference?

Products have undergone electrical safety testing that is in line with UL standards.

Products have undergone testing to meet UL standard in an audited, certified lab and received documentation.

Although our current lineup of ebikes is mixed, we have always met safety testing requirements. Even before states like New York and California made it a law! 

Buzz Ebikes are tested by SGS, an OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory that provides detailed inspection, verification, and certification services for products tested to the UL standard. Other popular ebike brands, such as Lectric, have used the same lab for their own compliance or certification testing.

We’re proud to share that Buzz has never received a report of an any electrical hazard. This milestone reflects our team’s commitment to quality engineering and safety.

We design every product to help build confidence and trust because your peace of mind matters to us.