Supporting Safer E-Mobility on College Campuses

By David McKnight, Head of Partnerships, UL Standards & Engagement

Visit any college campus across the country and you’ll see that e-mobility devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters, are a staple of campus transportation. For good reason — these devices offer an efficient and sustainable transit option that reduces traffic congestion and parking needs. 

These e-mobility devices are commonly powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, but if damaged, malfunctioning, modified, counterfeit, or otherwise substandard, these batteries can enter thermal runaway — an uncontrollable, self-heating state that can lead to smoke, fire, toxic off-gassing, or explosion. 

However, the widespread adoption of e-mobility options has outpaced the infrastructure, policies, and safety education that support safer use. To better understand the current approach to e-mobility on college campuses, UL Standards & Engagement recently partnered with The League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly University program to conduct a study of university safety concerns, policies, and challenges. The results of this study reveal that although e-bikes are common fixtures on many BFU campuses, there are significant gaps in infrastructure and policy development and enforcement, and real concerns centered around road and battery safety.

According to the study, nearly two-fifths (39%) of BFU campuses report that e-mobility devices are regularly used in daily campus life, with another one-third (31%) noting weekly usage. Despite regular use of e-mobility devices, colleges and universities struggle with three key challenges: policy; infrastructure; and education. 

Policy: A Mixed Bag

Despite growing usage, only 41% of BFU campuses have implemented formal e-bike policies, and the comprehensiveness of these policies varies significantly:

• Only 9% have developed comprehensive policies.
• One-third (32%) have limited regulations.
• Nearly one-quarter (24%) have neither established policies nor plans to do so.

Some institutions have taken proactive measures, including requirements that devices be certified to safety standards, like those set by ULSE:

• Colorado State University aligns its e-bike policies with local laws, restricting where e-bikes can be ridden and banning them from indoor spaces per local fire codes.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology requires all e-mobility devices, chargers, and batteries to be registered, permitting only devices certified to UL standards indoors. These must be stored in residential rooms or personal offices. Any violation can result in confiscation by campus police.

However, some institutions are taking a more restrictive approach — banning e-mobility devices altogether — which unfortunately limits accessibility for students and faculty who rely on e-mobility for transportation.

Infrastructure: Practical Charging Solutions

One of the biggest concerns surrounding e-mobility devices is unauthorized and unsafe charging practices. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents believe riders charge their e-bikes in residential buildings, while 41% suspect charging occurs in academic buildings, and 33% in administrative offices. Why? Convenience and inadequate charging infrastructure — an issue cited by more than 65% of respondents.

Many universities are addressing these concerns by investing in dedicated e-bike charging stations, secure storage facilities, and designated parking areas to keep devices out of hallways and to mitigate fire hazards.

Education: A Concerning Gap

Safety concerns related to e-mobility devices are widespread. These concerns align with broader public safety knowledge gaps. A separate UL Standards & Engagement survey found that 50% of e-bike owners were unaware their devices were powered by lithium-ion batteries, and only 39% knew how to mitigate the risk of battery overheating and thermal runaway. Among BFU campuses:

• 54% report concerns about pedestrian-cyclist conflicts.
• 57% cite battery/electrical-related hazards.
• 52% specifically worry about e-bike battery risks.

Educational programs focusing on proper battery charging, safe riding practices, and storage can help bridge these gaps and reduce accidents.

What Can Universities Do?

It’s critical to ensure students and faculty have access to the devices they want and need. UL Standards & Engagement is actively working with industry, government, and other stakeholders to ensure safe access to e-mobility devices without resorting to outright bans. Through our collaboration with universities and organizations like the League of American Bicyclists, we have found that the best approaches take into account four fundamental principles: 

1. Development or expansion of safe, convenient, and extensive charging infrastructure networks. 
2. Creation of comprehensive safety training programs for e-bike users. 
3. Implementation of clear, enforceable policies that address the full spectrum of e-bike usage on campus. 
4. Establishment of consistent enforcement mechanisms with appropriate resources and personnel. 
5. Regular policy evaluation and updating to reflect evolving needs and technologies.

These steps will help mitigate the risks posed by e-mobility devices while ensuring campuses across the country can preserve access to them. 

To learn more about our work to make e-mobility safe and accessible, and to find out how we can help make your institution safer, reach out to us at partnerships@ulse.org or read the report, E-Bikes on College & University Campuses, from ULSE and the League of American Bicyclists.