Motorcyclists warned ahead of battery law change
Many bikers are set to be caught out by new legislation surrounding motorcycle batteries
Motorcyclists face being caught out by a new battery law due to be implemented this weekend.
As of Sunday, it will become illegal to either buy or sell the most common type of motorbike battery – a ‘dry battery’ – unless those involved have a valid explosives precursors and poisons (EPP) licence, which costs £39.50.
The vast majority of motorcycle battery types are currently sold with a separate acid pack, making them ‘dry batteries’. When the batteries are pre-filled with acid and fully charged, this makes them a ‘wet battery’ and customers don’t need a licence to buy them.
Motoring retailer Halfords has already started withdrawing all dry batteries from its stores, as well as online.
Spokeswoman Ella Colley said: “It is important everyone quickly gets to grips with the change to the law, and that all retailers and garages do a good job of explaining it so motorcyclists don’t get caught out.
“We believe that most customers are unlikely to apply for an EPP licence to buy a battery and so have changed our range to wet batteries to save them time and money. Our wet batteries will be filled, charged and ready to fit for motorcyclists to ride off on.”
The change in law is a response to sulphuric acid’s reclassification as a regulated substance. To acquire or buy sulphuric acid in concentrations of more than 15 per cent, customers will need a valid EPP licence.
