Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Bad Soden am Taunus, 4th November 2016 – Industry welcomes the recently published European standard EN 50604-1:2016 as it defines a
 

 
...unified, Europe-wide safety standard for lithium-ion batteries used in “Light Electric Vehicles”. 

This new regulation improves the safety of pedelecs and other light electric vehicles such as electric motorbikes and scooters, and it provides a robust legal framework. The standard was issued by the European standards organisation CENELEC. It was proposed by the ZVEI (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie, German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association) and the ZIV (Zweirad-Industrie-Verband, Germany’s Two-Wheeler Industries Association) in collaboration with the Battery Safety Organization, BATSO.

These batteries are “high tech power packs” which can store huge amounts of energy in a very small volume. So it’s vital that the many hundreds of thousands of pedelec and e-bike owners can rely on the safety of their batteries. Industry associations have stressed this message for some time. Batteries must be protected against overcharging, deep discharging, short circuits, extreme temperatures and vibrations. The charger and battery pack must match, and chargers must only be able to charge the batteries for which they are designed. So chargers and batteries which belong together must be able to identify each other unambiguously. This can be achieved by mechanical, electrical or electronic means. Furthermore, contacts must be designed so that connection of the battery to mains AC voltages, or other non-approved power sources, is safely prevented. 

Pedelecs and e-bikes are on the road in their millions
Two-wheeled electromobility in the form of pedelecs and e-bikes has been a reality for some time now. Already over 2.5 million pedelecs and light electric vehicles are on the road in Germany.

“In view of this boom in electric-assisted cycles, consumers, dealers and manufacturers all need clear technical guidance”, states Siegfried Neuberger, Managing Director of ZIV, the Two-Wheeler Industries Association in Germany.

“Pedelecs, electric two wheelers and their components must all be manufactured to unified, high quality standards, so as to guarantee the highest possible level of safety”, adds Otmar Frey, Managing Director of the ZVEI trade body. 

Stephan Scheuer, Chairman of the Battery Safety Organization, BATSO, worked on the development of the basic technical requirements. He explains “In contrast to the batteries of electric cars, those on pedelecs and e-bikes are accessible externally, and most of them are removable. This gives rise to specific safety requirements to better protect the user. The new EN 50604-1 standard sets the benchmark in this respect.”

“This standardisation project has introduced into the test process checks on the proper functioning of a variety of safety measures to ensure the safety of users,” adds Dr. Richard Aumayer, Convenor of the standardisation committee.

ZVEI - Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V.
German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers´ Association
Lyoner Strasse 9, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Managing Director of the Batteries Division: Otmar Frey
Phone: +49 69 6302-283
Fax: +49 69 6302-362

>> frey@zvei.org

>> www.zvei.org

ZIV - Zweirad-Industrie-Verband e.V.
Two-Wheeler Industries Association
Königsteiner Strasse 20a, 65812 Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany
Managing Director: Siegfried Neuberger
Phone: +49 6196 5077-0
Fax: +49 6196 5077-20

>> contact@ziv-zweirad.de

>> www.ziv-zweirad.de 

Battery Safety Organization BATSO e.V.
Charlotten Strasse 65, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Chairman, BATSO e.V.: Stephan Scheuer
Phone: +49 221 806 0 
Fax: +49 221 806-1605 

>> info@batso.org

>> www.batso.org

>> press publication

Text and Picture: BATSO, ZIV, ZVEI

8 November 2016