The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has taken enforcement action against a brand of e-bike battery sold under the name UPP (Unit Pack Power), warning consumers not to use it following links to multiple fires across England.

According to OPSS, online marketplaces acting as distributors were issued formal notices requiring the product to be withdrawn from supply, alongside action targeting sellers and the overseas manufacturer. The message to owners is straightforward: if you have one of the affected batteries, stop using it and contact the seller.

Why this matters to eMTB riders

This isn’t just a commuter-bike story. Aftermarket batteries often end up on bikes that started life as normal mountain bikes and were later converted, or on second-hand e-bikes that have had parts swapped over time. If you’ve bought used, or you’re unsure of the battery’s history, it’s worth checking what you actually have fitted — not what the listing claimed.

What to do if you’re affected

OPSS’s advice is to stop using the battery and seek redress from the seller. Disposal should be handled properly via local household recycling facilities that accept lithium-ion batteries — and not via general household waste.

The wider point is that batteries and chargers are a system. When products are sold without the kind of compliance and traceability you’d expect from established manufacturers, the risk profile changes. If you’re buying replacement parts for an eMTB, the safest route is still to buy the manufacturer-approved battery and charger from reputable retailers, and avoid “unbranded” or hard-to-trace imports.