Battery standardisation

Standardising the fitting (etc) of electric batteries. Bicycles are discussed here, but cars, power tools, and so on would benefit similarly.

Background

1. Electric bicycles are popular and useful, but are very expensive and frequently replaced because of battery failure.
2. A battery available in 2020 may no longer be produced in 2025, so the entire bicycle has to be replaced.
3. Even if the exact same battery is available for his 2020 bike, an up to date 2025 battery would have a longer range, but of course would not fit the 2020 fitting.
4. All this makes electric bicycles ar very expensive opton.
5. As they are more expensive, they are more prone to theft and very heavy locks have to be used. People with small home cannot safely keep such an expensive electric bike outside their backdoor, so can’t use one.

Benefits

1. Easier to repair eg electric bikes
2. less stock needed, leading to
3. lower costs of replacing batteries
4. more cycle shops would be able to support electric bikes (not all shops can at present)
5. new batteries would be more accessible to consumers: at present many bikes are replaced rather than replacing just the battery, but bike most replacement would become unnecessary
6. and so the cost of keeping bikes longer would be lower
7. As bikes would last longer, they would have a lower carbon footprint
   
   

In practice

1. We propose that sizes and fittings would be standardised, similar to AA or AAA torch batteries, perhaps 3 fittings
2. manufacturers would provide batteries of different capacity (and cost!)
3. power outputs could also be standardised
4. if the UK standardised, other countries would follow
5. Cars, power tools, and so on would benefit similarly
6. One bicycle battery for instance, perhaps size ‘CC’, would fit all bikes with that CC fitting. Similarly, One bicycle battery size CCC, would fit all bikes with that CCC fitting.

Relevant ministers

• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and 
• Department for Business and Trade

Support and opposition

1. 95% local support for this particular proposal
2. 90% of local residents want the Government to take more climate action
3. With others we have carried out surveys of 200+ local residents. These residents were highly critical of the lack of Government action. This particular proposal was similarly supported.)
4. National figures are similar for more Government climate action (Yougov surveys etc).
5. An MP taking action would be supported and appreciated by this 95%.
6. Opposition..battery producers and other manufacturers