The role and remit of the UK Battery Strategy Taskforce has evolved since its inception, and the publication of the UK Battery Strategy, in 2023.

The Taskforce consistently uses their collective expertise to provide a robust challenge function to assist the Department for Business and Trade achieve a successful and effective implementation of the UK Battery Strategy.

Whilst its remit does not directly include consideration of standardised battery health testing for electric vehicles, the Taskforce seeks to identify important knowledge gaps where further research and/or evidence gathering should be considered.

• The UK Battery Strategy taskforce continues to meet regularly, bringing together officials, key industry stakeholders and academia to ensure that the UK battery ecosystem delivers prosperity, growth and economic security.
• Engagement with the UK sector through the taskforce has informed DBT’s approach to the Industrial Strategy.
• Advanced Manufacturing is one of the 8 key growth driving sectors at the heart of the Industrial Strategy. This will be an opportunity to signal our commitment to driving investment into the UK battery sector.
• Our sector plan will take advantage of the UK’s strengths, including our high-quality research institutions and innovative firms, in order to drive sustainable economic growth.

Our product safety laws require that all consumer products placed on the UK market, including e-bike batteries and conversion kits, must comply with legal safety requirements, regardless of their origin.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards works to detect and prevent unsafe or non-compliant goods entering the UK at ports and borders, alongside Local Authority Trading Standards and other Government partners. Information on products that present risks are published on gov.uk, including country of origin where known.

OPSS has commissioned technical research into lithium-ion battery safety to strengthen Government’s evidence base on the safety of these products.

The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK’s independent investigatory body that exists to defend the UK against unfair international trade practices, including assessing harm from subsidies. Where UK economic interests are being damaged by such unfair practices, action will be taken. The UK has in place an anti-subsidy and an anti-dumping measure on e-bikes from China, and one anti-dumping measure on bikes/bike parts from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. The Trade Remedies Authority is currently reviewing all three measures.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards is leading a programme of action to tackle the causes of fires in e-bikes and e-scooters. This includes targeted regulatory action, working with Local Authority Trading Standards at ports and borders, to identify non-compliant businesses and prevent unsafe products entering the market.

OPSS has published 21 product recalls and 28 product safety reports covering regulators’ interventions on e-bikes and e-scooters, lithium-ion batteries and chargers, since 2022.

OPSS’ enforcement actions are published on gov.uk quarterly. Information on products that present risks are published on the Product Recalls and Alerts site on gov.uk.