**Retailer Faces Charges After E-Bikes Catch Fire Due to Incompatible Batteries**
Singapore – Drive Bikes Singapore’s sales and marketing manager, Prince Bryan Tan, is set to appear in court on Thursday for two incidents involving incompatible e-bike batteries, as reported by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Wednesday.
**Charges and Incidents**
Tan allegedly sold an incompatible power-assisted bicycle (PAB) battery on Jan 27, 2024, leading to the illegal modification of an e-bike, making it non-compliant. Additionally, he is accused of selling another non-compliant e-bike on Feb 21, 2024, equipped with an incompatible battery. These incidents mark the first time a retailer will face charges related to such violations, according to LTA.
The consequences of these actions manifested in two separate incidents. The e-bike involved in the first incident caught fire on Apr 27, 2024, while being ridden along Hougang Avenue 5. In the second incident, an e-bike battery void of its EN15194 certification led to a fire at a customer’s home on Apr 25, 2024, located along Bukit Batok Street 32.
**Human Impact and Enforcement**
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng revealed that the victim in the first incident sustained burns and required skin grafting. The second incident resulted in “significant damage” to the user’s home, as shared by Keng.
LTA emphasized the importance of enforcing regulations on active mobility devices (AMDs), with over 400 non-compliant devices seized in the first half of 2024. Notably, around 10 cases of selling non-compliant devices were identified during operations against retailers within the same timeframe.
**Safety Measures and Penalties**
To mitigate fire risks associated with non-compliant e-bikes, LTA enforces stringent regulatory standards, such as UL2272 for motorized personal mobility devices (PMDs) and EN15194 for PABs. The authority underlined the severity of the risks by citing six deaths since 2019 due to non-compliant devices.
Individuals found guilty of causing illegal modifications to PABs can face fines up to S$20,000 (US$14,800), imprisonment up to two years, or both. Similarly, companies selling non-compliant PABs can be penalized with fines up to S$40,000 upon conviction.
By adhering to safety standards and purchasing from reputable sources, the public can help prevent incidents like these and ensure the safety of e-bike users and their communities. Remember, safety should always come first.