How do you choose a safe ebike?

The benefits of eco-friendly ebikes for transportation are clear. Swift and reliable pedal assist bike gives you the joy of biking without the pain, and helps you save on both gas and stress. But with so many options on the market, one big question remains: how do you choose a safe ebike? We’ve all heard stories about battery fires or even just the increased risk that comes with faster, heavier vehicles. As ebike owners and users, as well as dealers, we thought about this a lot. Read on for our advice on ebike safety.

Safety starts with quality engineering: UL-2849 standard for ebike systems

The first thing to know is that there are engineering standards for safe ebikes, to ensure that their batteries and electronics are safe – but they’re not yet mandated for all ebikes. The most important safety standard for North America is UL-2849, the Standard for Electrical Systems for eBikes, created by Underwriters Laboratories. UL is a professional organization that conducts testing and publishes standards for thousands of consumer and industrial products, from extension cords to smartphones. To meet the UL-2849 standard, ebikes have to have key safety features, such as battery management systems to prevent  Lithium batteries from overcharging.

All the ebike brands we work with choose Bosch Ebike Systems to power their designs, and you will find Bosch motors, batteries, and controls on all of our bikes. Long before other ebike makers, Bosch voluntarily adopted the UL-2849 standard and required ebike manufacturers to have their designs certified as compliant through independent testing, to use the Bosch system. Bosch has the longest record of making the safest bikes of any ebike system in the world.

And while today, UL-2849 remains a voluntary standard in most jurisdictions, it is being adopted by more and more ebike manufacturers as important markets like New York City have begun to mandate its use. Our most important ebike safety recommendation for 2025 is this: get an ebike that is UL-2849 certified, at the bare minimum. While this may not guarantee that you get a high-quality bike, at least it is a guarantee that the battery and electronics will be safe.

Bosch’s leadership in the voluntary adoption of UL-2849 is a big part of the reason we only stock bikes using their system. They have always worked with the bicycle brands that use their systems to ensure that every model is compliant and tested. UL-2849 is still not federally mandated, but you can trust Bosch ebikes anywhere in the world.

Slow as good as your go: Braking, drivetrain, and shifting reliability

Standards are a necessary starting point for designing a safe product, but they don’t guarantee that a given bike will be reliable and up to the task. The brands we represent recognize that their ebikes are serving as vehicles, so all of their bikes are built with ebike-specific components.

All our ebikes use hydraulic disc brakes from Magura, Shimano, and Tektro, and internally geared hubs or derailleurs from Rohloff, Enviolo, and Shimano. Ultra durable, super low-maintenance Gates carbon belts replace the chain on many of our bikes, further guaranteeing reliability. We even have bikes with advanced safety technology, like ABS (anti-lock brakes) for ebikes.

These quality components promise lighter upkeep and longer service life versus traditional bicycles, so you can be confident that your ebike will never let you down.

Bicycle fit: comfort and control

The brands we work with are all experienced bike designers who understand that proper fit and bike handling characteristics are unique for each rider. Our bikes are made to fit all bodies, and can even be shared between more than one rider easily. Intuitive and responsive controls enable anyone to safely navigate traffic and a busy life. And with the smooth operation of the Bosch ebike system, your pedaling will always be comfortable.

Many of our bikes feature upright riding posture and low step-through frame designs. These bikes make it easy for people of all different heights to get on and off. You won’t have to tip these bikes over or swing your leg over the saddle, so they’re safer for riders with passengers or limited mobility. Riding upright makes it easier to look around and put a foot down if needed.

We have plenty of sportier fitting bikes for solo riders, too, and we understand that the perfect fit for your commuting or touring bike might be very different from what you want in a utility or cargo bike. On longer rides, more precise sizing and fit become essential for comfort and to prevent injury. 

High visibility: integrated lighting and reflective elements

Choosing an ebike as your vehicle shouldn’t limit when and where you can travel. That’s why all our ebikes have head and tail lights built in, shining the way and announcing your approach in dark conditions. As the days grow shorter in the fall, you’ll never find yourself searching for your bicycle lights. Frames, tires, pedals, and accessories all include reflective, high-visibility elements, too.

The Bosch system cleverly saves a reserve of battery power to keep the lights and display running, in the unlikely event of your battery running too low to power the motor. Even if you have to pedal through the last mile by yourself one day, your lights will still be there to show the  path ahead.

Our top tier models even feature button activated hi-beams, perfect for illuminating the trail on the darkest winter nights, and brake lights that brighten as you pull the levers to signal to following vehicles that you are slowing.

Safety accessories: child seats, helmets, and more

Bicycle helmets can protect your head from impact in the event of a crash, and we recommend wearing a helmet every time you ride a bike, just in case. We stock Abus and Woom helmets for adults and kids, tested for safety and designed for comfort. Just like with bikes, comfortable fit is important for helmets , you want ones that don’t cramp your dome, so you and your family will never hesitate to wear them when you’re riding. That way you can focus on seeing the road ahead and making sure your helmets never have to “do their job.”

What about child seats to secure the youngest passengers? We stock Yepp Maxi child seats from Thule, the well known maker of car bicycle racks and accessories. Yepp seats firmly attach to the rear rack of almost any of our bikes, including commuter models, and provide a seatbelt and molded frame outer frame to secure and protect passengers up to 40lbs.

Some cargo bikes have their seats and seatbelts built in. The Urban Arrow includes a bench with belts for two passengers, and the option to add a second bench for a third. The extended upper frame and tall EPP box of the Urban Arrow Family and FamilyNext models securely enclose your passengers and cargo, providing the safest and most convenient choice in the market.

Tern’s Clubhouse, Sidekick, and Captain’s Chair accessories provide flexible options to adapt as your passengers grow, providing additional protective framing and comfortable grips and seating. Sunshade, Storm Box, and Rain Shield accessories make Tern GSD and Quick Haul Long bikes into four season vehicles, ready to protect passengers in all conditions.

Road safety: Cycling smarts

With a safe ebike and proper accessories, you are equipped to hit the road. But what if you feel out of practice biking, or you are unsure about the rules of the road? There’s no better time to learn than now, as you’re embarking on a new journey into ebike life.

Many experienced bicyclists learn the rules of the road informally, peer-to-peer. Most of us have not grown up in a strong cycling culture, and we are not taught how to use bicycles as vehicles. Today, more and more people are adopting bicycles for transportation for the first time. We need to feel confident biking on the streets some of the time in order to reach all of our important destinations in life.

Fortunately, there are dedicated advocates and educators who are teaching people the skills they need to handle their bikes safely in any situation. There are also a plethora of online resources to help arm you with information before you hit the road. We are listing some of our favorite organizations and websites here so you can get involved and learn more:

• Bike advocates and educators
  • RIBike – Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition
  • WRWC/Red Shed – Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and the Red Shed youth bike program
  • Bike Newport – Newport’s dedicated bicycle non-profit
  • Massbike – Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition
  • League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling courses – National bike advocacy organization that teaches and certifies Smart Cycling instructors
  • People For Bikes – National bicycle policy organization
• Online resources
  • Red Shed YouTube – Helmet fit, bicycle safety check, and rules of the road videos
  • BicycleSafe.com – Diagrams and info for safely navigating your bike in traffic

Conclusion: We make safety simple

At Mission Electric, we have our own standard of quality, which means you can trust that every ebike we put on the floor is up to the task and built to last. We don’t waste your time with unreliable mystery brands or try to fit you with the wrong size because of limited inventory. We know the bikes we sell because we’ve used them ourselves, and we trust them to carry our closest loved ones. Let us help you find your match today!