Electric bikes and scooters are sold on range and speed, but the battery and charger deserve as much attention. This guide covers what the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says on its Micromobility Information Center page, so you can check a listing before you order. It covers US advice only, and it is general information, not safety certification. We did not read UK or EU rules for e-bike batteries.

This guide is based on the public source listed below. We have not tested any bike, scooter, battery or store. For sizing and types, see our guides to buying a bike or e-bike online and e-bikes versus regular bikes, and for helmets see what the federal rule requires.

What CPSC advises

Source: CPSC, "Micromobility: E-Bikes, E-Scooters and Hoverboards" (the page shows no publication date; its most recent dated item is from August 2026). Last checked: 17 October 2026.

  • Certification. Buy devices and batteries that are designed, made and certified to meet the applicable voluntary safety standards.
  • Charging. Charge only while you are home and awake, and unplug when finished.
  • The right charger. Use only the charger that came with the device or the one the manufacturer recommends. CPSC urged consumers in September 2024 not to buy or use "universal" chargers.
  • Replacement batteries. Use only replacement batteries that are tested and approved for your device by its manufacturer. Never use batteries that were modified, repaired by unqualified people or built from used cells.
  • Disposal. Do not put lithium batteries in the trash or regular recycling. Take them to a battery recycler or hazardous waste center.
  • Helmet and riding. Always wear a bicycle helmet. Check brakes, tires, handlebars and lights before riding, follow the manufacturer's weight and age limits, make yourself visible, and carry only one rider.
  • The trend. CPSC says emergency-room-treated injuries and deaths from these products are rising (its latest report covers 2017 to 2023 data), and most deaths involve motor vehicles.

What to check on a listing

  1. Which certification does it claim, and can the seller show it? The CPSC page does not name a standard, so treat the claim as the seller's until confirmed.
  2. Is the right charger included, or sold for that exact battery? Avoid "universal" chargers.
  3. Can you buy a replacement battery from the maker, and does the seller say it is approved for your model?
  4. Weight and age limits in the manual, and the store's return rules for heavy items.
  5. Where you will charge it, and how you will dispose of the old battery.

What we could not confirm

  • Which standards apply, whether a mandatory rule is in force, the figures behind the injury trend, and UK or EU rules.

Source: US CPSC, Micromobility Information Center.