New Specification for Electric Powered Balance Bike
1. Scope
1.1 This consumer safety specification establishes performance requirements, test methods and marking requirements to promote safe use of Electric Powered Balance Bike intended for use by children age 3 to twelve years. This consumer safety specification is intended to minimize the risk of injury to an occupant from the normal use and reasonably foreseeable misuse of these e-mobility products.
1.2 For purposes of definition, an Electric Powered Balance Bike is a battery-powered motorized vehicle for children ages three to twelve years that has two or more wheels, a frame of a balance bike, or similar, with a low seat height, and is designed for a single occupant, but is absent pedals. Electric Powered Balance Bikes are not intended for use on public roads and are limited to speeds of 32 km/h (20 mph) or less.
1.3 This consumer safety specification is not intended for:
1.3.1 Products designed and sold as “Adult Use Only” and are prominently labeled and marked as such;
1.3.2 Commercial electric-powered scooters (for example, shared or rented devices) for adults;
1.3.3 Bicycles tricycles;
1.3.4 Non-powered scooters (Consumer Safety Specification F2264);
1.3.5 Battery powered ride-on toys (Consumer Safety Specification F963);
1.3.6 Motorcycles, skateboards, all-terrain vehicles, go-karts (Practice F2007);
1.3.7 Concession go-karts;
1.3.8 Recreational and commercial fun-karts;
1.3.9 Snowmobiles, motorized trail bikes, lawn mowers, motorized wheelchairs including mobility scooters; or
1.3.10 Products designed or licensed for roadway use regulated by transportation regulations (such as those promulgated by the U.S. Department of Transportation or similar state agencies or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
1.3.11 Recreational Powered Scooters and Pocket Bikes (Consumer Safety Specification F2641)
1.3.12 electric bicycles or e-bikes (STANDARD ##)
1.4 This consumer safety specification is not intended to address incidents and injuries resulting from the interaction of other persons or objects with recreational powered scooters and pocket bikes and the user while these are in use.
1.6 No product covered by this specification produced after the approval date of this consumer safety specification shall, by label, marking, or other means, indicate compliance with this consumer safety specification unless it conforms to all requirements herein.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.8 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portion (Section 7) of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Keywords
EV Pushbike Push Bike Battery
Rationale
The ASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Products has noted a new and growing segment of powered vehicles that does not fall under the definitions of scope in a current safety specification. The Committee, through the F15.58 subcommittee for Powered Scooter & Skateboard, seeks to define this new segment, namely the Electric Powered Balance Bike category; its uses, potential safety concerns and/or design considerations, and required testing and methods associated with this new category.
