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THE TECHNICAL SERVICE | CONSUMER FINANCE SERVICE | BATTERY COLLECTION SERVICE | E-BIKE BRAND AUDIT SERVICE | RESOURCES
We offer one-on-one advice on all regulatory, compliance and technical matters, included with BA membership. Excellent contacts and a deep knowledgebase allow us to provide swift and authoritative advice on everything from tariffs to fatigue testing, plus early intelligence on standards development, anti-dumping, tariffs and Brexit, safety issues and more.
The Technical Service also plays a significant role in the BA’s advocacy work, providing expertise for detailed policy development and proposals – as well as flagging and analysing regulatory developments which may pose a threat, or present opportunities, for the cycle industry.
We regret that the Technical Service cannot answer queries from companies who are not Bicycle Association members, nor from members of the public. The BA Guides published below may however be useful to address some popular topics.
Support is provided to BA member companies via:
Addressing market failures on behalf of members is a core activity for the BA. In response to requests from members we’ve acted to provide a consumer finance offer for bike retailers (including smaller ones who would otherwise struggle to qualify), on the same attractive terms for all. .
Since the start of 2023 we’ve been proud to partner with Novuna, negotiating an advantageous package for you. With fees up to 50% lower than other finance offers, high acceptance rates and a modern user experience for both customer and retailer, this offer will grow your sales whilst protecting precious margins. Novuna and the BA have recently renewed their offer for members following a successful 18 months of working together. The BA estimates that just 600 specialist retailers currently offer finance, and believes this number could be much bigger to help grow your bike saless. Novuna now integrates with all leading ecommerce platforms, as well as Citrus Lime, Push Retail and SiWIS.
Electric bike sales are set to grow significantly in the coming years – even without the expected incremental sales to new and returning customers, the share of 1 million adult bike sales that are electric could rise to 50% within a few years.
Eventually, the batteries on these bikes expire, and need to be replaced (a typical battery will last 7-10 years under normal usage and charge cycles). Batteries on electric bikes are classed as “industrial” (as opposed to “portable” consumer batteries) and this classification means that companies classed as ‘Producers’ are responsible for their safe collection and disposal.
In the near future, the UK cycle industry is going to have to deal with many hundreds of thousands of expired batteries. For Producers, which in the UK cycle industry mainly means brands and distributors, this is going to be both expensive and time consuming. Without an industry solution in place each Producer will have to engage with a third party to collect and recycle its own batteries. Resources will need to be found within organisations to manage this, and the cost of doing so will grow over time.
For retailers, if each Producer has its own solution, complexity at retail level will be high, and unmanageable. At present, many retailers are incurring battery collection and recycling costs that should be attributed elsewhere.
For consumers, it is important to know that a solution exists if their battery expires or is faulty. These powerful batteries need to be removed from homes, to be stored safely at a nationwide network of collection points where they are then collected and recycled so that the important materials are recycled in the correct waste streams.
At a time when the risks of e-bike battery fires are mainstream news, the provision of a certified, industry-wide, expired battery collection service is important for the resilience of the sector and a point of difference for a trustworthy retailer. The BA will launch a national battery collection and recycling programme in spring 2025.
Many users and potential purchasers of e-bikes have been understandably concerned about media reports around lithium battery fires attributed to e-bikes. However there is strong evidence that e-bikes from reputable brands, sold by responsible retailers and not tampered-with or otherwise abused, are very safe products indeed.
Reputable brands conduct extensive safety testing to well proven international standards to ensure that their e-bikes, batteries and chargers are safe and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations - not only as separate components, but also as a complete, compatible system. Furthermore, they put quality processes in place to ensure that this evidence-backed level of safety is sustained in manufacture, transport and retail.
To help potential purchasers and users to identify e-bike brands which meet these safety responsibilities, the Bicycle Association has set up a register of safety-audited brands.
E-bike initiatives & resources
The Bicycle Association and other cycle sector partners are working intensively on multiple initiatives and resources to help safeguard the future of the e-bike category for responsible suppliers in the UK.
The Bicycle Association has worked with numerous industry experts and stakeholders to develop Codes of Conduct for cycle logistics riders and operators, and a minimum Cargo Bike Rider Training Standard, as part of our work to support the professionalisation and growth of this sector.
The Bicycle Association and the Cycle Rail Working Group have developed a cycle parking standard to assist procurement of good quality, accessible, secure and durable cycle parking hardware and installations.
Cycle theft is a major issue for the industry, because many people whose bikes are stolen do not return to cycling. Thefts from retailers can also be traumatic and disruptive. Read more about the BA’s work to help address cycle theft and security.
