EPPVs – FAQs

An Electric Powered Personal Vehicle (EPPV) is defined as a compact, motorised vehicle that is powered by electricity and is designed to transport a single person. Examples of EPPVs include, but are not limited to:  

• e-bikes
• segways
• electric unicycles
• hoverboards
• electric skateboards
• mobility scooters  
• electric-powered wheelchairs  

These vehicles typically have a rechargeable battery and are used for short-distance travel, either for convenience or to assist with mobility.  

NOTE: Currently, in the UK, only e-scooters participating in official rental e-scooter trials may be used legally on roads. The use (including storage) of e-scooters on any part of the University estate is not permitted. 

Yes, but only:  

• internally within a designated ChargeSafe facility, or
• externally within a communal ChargeSafe hub 

Yes. EPPVs can be brought into University buildings for safe storage so long as the following conditions are met: 

• permission is sought and granted by the Head of Department (HoD) or those nominated by the HoD to implement the requirements of S3/24
• the EPPV must not be parked where it is liable to cause obstruction or danger, be attached to fences, railings, at entrances or by external escape routes of buildings 
• the EPPV lithium-ion battery is not placed on charge inside a University building, unless in a dedicated ChargeSafe facility 

NOTE: Currently, in the UK, only e-scooters participating in official rental e-scooter trials may be used legally on roads. The use (including storage) of e-scooters on any part of the University estate is not permitted. 

This is a dedicated space available either external to, or within a University building that has been allocated and deemed suitable by the University Fire Officer and Senior Fire Engineer for the safe and secure charging of EPPVs and their associated batteries. 

Requirements for this space include:

• minimum of 60-minute fire-resisting construction with a minimum of FD30 fire doors (shown to control the spread of fire and smoke for at least 30 minutes when installed correctly)
• any charging space should be located on the access level with direct external access  
• consideration should always be given to access and egress routes for firefighters from the appliance (fire engine) parking position  
• external signage should be provided indicating the use of the room (i.e. ‘EPPVs on charge’)
• a Fire Action notice must be displayed to advise on the action to be taken in the event of fire
• if the proposed room doesn't contain any form of smoke ventilation, consideration should be given to the installation of a suitably sized Automatically Openable Vent (AOV) linked to the local fire detector within the room to vent any resulting fire gases
• consideration of the size of the proposed room should include whether there is any automatic fire suppression system within the space. Where one is not fitted, it's recommended that a localised water-based fire suppression system is installed to a recognised industry standard and is determined suitable for the specific fire risk
• suitable means of raising the alarm should be provided within the proposed room which initiates early warning for occupants within the building. This should include smoke detection. Any systems should be in accordance with BS:5839-1  

The electrical infrastructure required will vary from building to building. Therefore, guidance must be sought from the Estates Electrical Team.  

Security of EPPVs and associated equipment in ChargeSafe facilities must also be considered.  

Online access control systems provide enhanced security and operational efficiency. While offline systems may be adequate in some situations, they lack the flexibility and real-time management capabilities of online systems. Online access allows for monitoring of electronic locks and maintains an event log to track who enters and exits the facility at specific times.

Submit a request to your departmental fire officer or departmental safety officer explaining that you wish to bring an EPPV/associated lithium-ion battery into the building for charging so that a case can be made to provide such a facility. The decision to provide a ChargeSafe facility rests with the HoD.  

Charging of an EPPV or its associated lithium-ion battery cannot take place within an unauthorised part of the building in the interim.

In the event that an EPPV is found to be stored and/or on charge in an unauthorised location or manner, it will be unplugged and removed.  

Under S3/24, the HoD has the power to authorise managers to act on their behalf regarding the removal of EPPVs and/or their associated lithium-ion batteries if found to be in breach of the policy statement.  

The HoD has a responsibility to ensure a safe and secure area is identified for the relocation of the seized equipment, until reunited with its owner. The details of how this will be managed rests with the individual department.  

Currently, there is no approved locker recommended for charging lithium-ion batteries. Due to the safety risks associated with lithium-ion battery charging, the University does not endorse any specialist lockers for this purpose as they only contain the explosion, not the spread of toxic gasses. For safety and compliance, it's advised to use only dedicated ChargeSafe facilities for battery charging.  

The HoD is responsible for ensuring that adequate resources are in place to manage and monitor potential fire risks. This includes assigning a responsible person to carry out actions under each section of the Plan/Do/Check/Act framework.

This responsibility, as outlined in University policy statement S1/21 Fire Safety Management, must be managed according to the procedures specified in the EPPVs policy.  

No, rental e-scooters are not permitted for use within University buildings, and they should not be brought into private residences. For example, e-scooters owned by Voi are part of a public rental scheme and are subject to restrictions. Misuse of rental e-scooters can result in fines, bans, or other legal actions.

If you have a ChargeSafe facility available, this should be the default. If no such facility is available, a dynamic risk assessment should be carried out by the departmental fire officer or departmental safety officer, and a suitable room found for the short-term charging of the equipment.

The room will need to be fitted with automatic fire detection, and a fire door. Please note this is only an acceptable solution for EPPVs required for accessibility purposes and is not applicable to e-bikes and other convenience EPPVs. 

Reporting issues with lithium-ion batteries to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, as recommended by the government, is crucial. For more details, please refer to the government’s guidance on Battery safety for e-cycle users: ‘If you see signs that your lithium battery could be a fire hazard’. 

Reporting an electrical fault to Citizens Advice and Trading Standards in the UK is important for several reasons. Trading Standards enforces consumer protection laws, promotes fair business practices, and protects the public from unsafe products. By reporting electrical equipment faults, you help protect consumer safety, ensure compliance with legal standards, and support the enforcement of laws against unsafe marketplace practices.  

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) does not require reports of lithium-ion battery faults unless an actual fire occurs, in which case OFRS will respond and record the incident on its database.  

No, this policy does not apply to buildings within the private Residential Lettings portfolio.