TONAWANDA, NY (WIVB) — Electric bikes and electric scooters have never been more popular.
“E-bike sales have really tripled in the last three years,” said Jim Costello, regional manager of Bert’s Bikes and Fitness.
Costello says e-bikes are safe, but like any other battery-powered vehicle, people need to use common sense.
“You want to make sure that what you’re buying is safe and approved,” he said. “Any bike bought on Amazon for under $800 doesn’t have to meet safety standards or anything like that. Every bike we sell has the batteries marked UR certified. Someone has tested them to make sure they’re safe.”
The New York State Firefighters Association points out that improper charging of lithium-ion batteries can cause a fire.
“In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of fires caused by e-bikes and other small mobility devices with lithium-ion batteries,” said FASNY Secretary John D’Alessandro.
FASNY recommends only purchasing products that have been certified by an independent safety testing group, connecting chargers directly to the power outlet and never leaving batteries unattended during charging.
“Every technology can be used right or wrong,” D’Alessandro said. “We need consumer involvement to ensure that they use properly tested and verified appliances, batteries and chargers so that they don’t end up on their doorstep because their house is on fire.”
Latest local news
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2019. Follow Sarah on Þjórsárden @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit News 4 Buffalo.
