UL2849 Standard Explained: E-Bike Compliance for North America & Amazon

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UL2849 Standard Explained: Origins, Scope & Compliance for E-Bikes 01 Origin of UL2849

Editor:ESTL Category:Technical information Release time:2026-02-28 Click volume:2

01 Origin of UL2849

UL2849: Standard for Safety for Electrical Systems of Electric Bicycleswas developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and first published on January 2, 2020.It was created as a systematic safety solution in response to the rapid growth of the e‑bike market and rising electrical safety concerns.

Development Timeline

2016: UL released UL2849 Outline of Investigation (3rd Edition)
January 2020: First edition of UL2849 officially published
Immediately adopted as a national standard by ANSI (US) and SCC (Canada)
2021: Added to OSHA’s NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) program
Late 2022: CPSC issued directives requiring e‑mobility products to comply with UL2849, UL2272, etc.

UL2849 has evolved from a voluntary standard into a de facto mandatory requirement for the North American market.

02 Which E-Bikes Require UL2849?

UL2849 applies to electrical systems of rechargeable lithium‑battery‑powered electric bicycles.

It covers two main types:

EPAC (Electric Pedal Assisted Cycle)E-bikes that require pedaling for electric assistance.
Non‑EPACThrottle‑controlled e‑bikes (fully electric‑driven).

When used with 16 CFR 1512 (Bicycle Safety Requirements), e-bikes must generally meet:

Speed < 20 mph (32 km/h)
Power < 750 W

Key Components Covered

Battery pack & BMS
Charger
Motor & controller
Wiring harnesses
Enclosure and housing

Component Standards

Battery pack: UL 2271, UL 2580, UL 62133, or UL 2054
Charger: UL 1012, UL 1310, or UL 62368-1
Charging cable: UL 62
Connector: UL 2251 or UL 1977
Plastic housing: V‑1 flammability minimum, 80°C heat resistance, UL 746C for outdoor use

03 Products That Do NOT Need UL2849

Personal e‑mobility devices not intended for road use (hoverboards, e‑scooters, unicycles): use UL2272
Separate battery packs sold individually: use UL2271
Mechanical structures (frame, brakes, handling): covered by 16 CFR 1512
Road‑legal e‑scooters & electric motorcycles: fall under FMVSS, outside UL2849

04 UL2849 vs. UL2272 — Key Differences

表格

Item	UL2849	UL2272
Application	Electric bicycles (seated, often with pedals)	Personal e‑mobility devices (hoverboards, standing e‑scooters)
Product Form	Seated, single rider	Standing, short‑distance travel
Scope	Full electrical system of e‑bike	Full electrical system of PMDs
Battery Requirement	UL 2271 / 2580 / 62133 / 2054	UL 2271
First Published	2020	2016
Main Drivers	Amazon US, CPSC, NYC laws	Amazon hoverboard category, CPSC
Typical Products	Commuter e‑bikes, EPAC e‑bikes	Hoverboards, standing e‑scooters

Simple Rule:If your product has a seat and pedals, it likely needs UL2849.If it is standing ride (hoverboard / scooter), it needs UL2272.

05 Why UL2849 Is Mandatory

On December 20, 2022, the CPSC officially required all e‑mobility products to comply with UL safety standards including UL2849 and UL2272.

Amazon US requires:

16 CFR 1512 test report
UL2849 test report (or UL2272 if applicable)

New York City requires UL2849 for all e‑bikes sold or rented, with fines up to $1,000.

06 How to Get a UL2849 Test Report Efficiently

For most e‑commerce sellers, a UL2849 test report is the most cost‑effective solution.

表格

Item	UL Test Report	UL Certification
Factory Audit	Not required	Required
UL Mark	Not allowed	Allowed
Cost	Lower	High (from tens of thousands USD)
Lead Time	4–8 weeks	6+ months
Best For	Amazon & e‑commerce	Retail, government

Required Documents

Overall and housing dimension drawings
UL file numbers for plastic materials
Product label and English user manual
UL certifications for battery, charger, motor

Typical Lead Time: 4–8 weeks

Recommendation: Plan 2–3 months in advance.

07 Why Choose Us?

Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology Co., Ltd. is a UL‑authorized TPTDP laboratory with CNAS accreditation.We cover full battery and e‑mobility standards:UL1642, UL2054, UL2056, UL2271, UL2272, UL2849, UL2580, UL1973.

We provide:

Full‑cycle service: standard interpretation, pre‑testing, formal testing
Support for GCC, FCC, and other compliance
Special regulatory support for New York and other U.S. cities

Label: Amazon e-bike requirement e-bike certification UL2849 test report e-bike compliance UL2849 vs UL2272 16 CFR 1512 CPSC e-bike UL2849

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