March 14, 2024 - Amidst the growing threat of e-bike battery fires, Metrolinx is set to ban non-certified e-bike batteries from all GO trains in the coming months reports Global News.
The transit system has begun conducting electric bicycle inspections across the network, looking for uncertified batteries which could be a potential fire hazard.
Uncertified lithium-ion batteries are expected to be barred from the network entirely while those with UL (Underwriter Laboratories) or CE (Conformité Européenne) certifications on them have received GO Transit security seals.
On New Year’s Eve, a lithium-ion battery failure caused an e-bike to burst into flames on board a Toronto subway car.
David Shellnutt, co-founder of The Biking Lawyer LLP in Toronto, said that safety concerns must be addressed but is concerned about how people’s rights would be communicated to them and if inspectors had the proper training required to do the job.
Read the full report here.
