E-bikes in the office: more than just business bike leasing

E-bikes in the company? What employers need to know

Do you offer your employees business bike leasing and ask them to wear a helmet when cycling to work? That's good, but it's not all you should be aware of as an employer when it comes to e-bikes.

Basically, all lithium-ion batteries pose a fire hazard. Although it is very rare for a bike battery to catch fire or explode, the consequences can be devastating. A burning battery can emit high-pressure jet flames and battery fires are almost impossible to extinguish. The amount of energy stored in the large batteries of an electric bike makes them incomparably more dangerous than the batteries of mobile phones, for example. The same applies to the use of battery-powered tools.

Our tips for the safe use of e-bikes in the company:

• Ensure safe storage conditions. E-bikes, especially the batteries, should not be left in direct sunlight or exposed to frost.
• Electric bikes should never be parked on escape routes, as they can quickly produce large quantities of toxic smoke as well as heat in the event of a fire, making the escape route impassable.
• The risk of fire is higher when charging batteries than when storing them. Special care should be taken here.
• Damaged or deeply discharged batteries pose a very high fire risk. They should be disposed of quickly and must not be recharged.

If you want to be on the safe side, you can purchase fireproof boxes for the storage and safe charging of batteries.

Good to know: Until the end of 2030, charging electric vehicles at work is tax-free for employees and free of social security contributions. This applies at least if this non-cash benefit is granted in addition to the agreed salary. For reasons of fairness, the tax authorities apply this regulation not only to e-cars, but also to e-bikes.

By the way: If large quantities of new, used and defective e-bike batteries come together - e.g. at bike dealers and bike workshops - special care should be taken. For these cases, we offer large, fireproof battery containers with a capacity of up to 4 cubic metres.