Product Safety

Most of this page is about batteries, because that is where the real risk sits. The rest is about the fact that a 30 kg bicycle behaves differently from a 12 kg one.

Lithium battery safety

Lithium-ion batteries are safe when treated properly. Almost every serious incident traces back to physical damage, a wrong charger, or charging somewhere that a fault could not be noticed.

Charging

  • Charge indoors, on a hard, non-flammable surface — not on a bed, sofa, carpet or in a cupboard full of coats.
  • Charge within sight and while awake where you can. Do not leave a pack charging overnight or while out.
  • Unplug when full. Leaving a pack on charge for days shortens its life.
  • Use only the charger supplied for that pack. Connectors that appear compatible frequently are not, and the wrong voltage is genuinely dangerous.
  • Do not charge somewhere that would block your exit if a fire started — that means not in a hallway or at the bottom of stairs.

Damaged batteries

Stop using a battery immediately if it has been dropped hard, dented, punctured, submerged, or if it looks swollen, smells odd, or gets unusually hot in normal use.

Do not charge it. Do not put it in a bag. Move it somewhere non-flammable and away from the building if you can do so safely, and contact us or an ENGWE service point. Never put a damaged lithium battery in household waste or a recycling bin.

Storage

  • Store at 30–60% charge if the bike will be unused for a month or more.
  • Keep above 0 °C and out of direct sun and heat.
  • Top up to that range every few months rather than leaving it flat — a deeply discharged pack can become unrecoverable.

Disposal

Lithium batteries must be recycled through a battery collection point. They must never go in household waste, where they cause fires in bin lorries and sorting facilities.

Riding a heavy e-bike

An e-bike weighs two to three times what an ordinary bicycle does, and carries its speed differently. Three things follow from that:

  • Braking distances are longer. Leave more room than instinct suggests, especially in the wet and especially loaded.
  • Pulling away is quicker than people expect. On a torque-sensor bike this is smooth; on any bike it is faster than surrounding traffic anticipates.
  • Cornering is different. The mass is low but it is real. Take the first few rides gently.

Wear a helmet. It is not compulsory for pedelecs in Germany, the Netherlands or France at the time of writing, and it is still the right decision.

Before every ride

  • Tyre pressure — the single most neglected item, and the one that most affects both safety and range.
  • Brakes — squeeze both levers before you set off.
  • Folding bikes — check the frame hinge, stem clamp and seat clamp are properly closed and torqued.
  • Quick releases and axle nuts.

Carrying passengers and children

Rules on carrying passengers, child seats, footrests and helmets differ between Germany, the Netherlands and France. Check your national requirements before riding two-up. Footrests are not a comfort item — they keep a passenger's feet away from the rear wheel.

Age and supervision

These are adult machines. Minimum ages for riding e-bikes and, separately, electric scooters differ by country and by vehicle class. Check the rules where you live before allowing a young rider to use one. [OWNER TO CONFIRM: any age restriction you wish to apply as a seller]

Reporting a safety concern

If you believe a product we supplied has a safety defect, tell us immediately. Stop using it in the meantime.