E-bike and e-scooter fires reached a record high last year, new figures suggest.<\/p>\n
There were 432 blazes involving e-bikes during 2025 – a 38% jump compared with a year earlier.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 147 e-scooter fires were reported, up 20% from the 123 seen in 2024.<\/p>\n
These incidents are often caused by failing batteries, conversion kits and chargers.<\/p>\n
Products bought from online marketplaces are at a greater risk of malfunctioning, because they aren’t subject to the same regulation as established retailers.<\/p>\n
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Nick Bailey from BatteryIQ said the e-scooters and e-bikes involved in fires are “always cut-price products” manufactured with lax quality control.<\/p>\n
He added: “There’s also a growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, particularly for delivery riders, built using battery cells reclaimed from disposable vapes.<\/p>\n
“I wouldn’t keep a battery in my home without continuous monitoring – regardless of what the manufacturer’s sticker says.”<\/p>\n
The PA news agency sent Freedom of Information requests to all 49 fire brigades in the UK and asked for the number of incidents recorded between 2021 and 2025.<\/p>\n
London Fire Brigade recorded the greatest number of fires by far, with Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire identified as hotspots outside of the capital.<\/p>\n
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Fires involving lithium batteries used for e-bikes and e-scooters can spread rapidly and produce a toxic vapour.<\/p>\n
Electrical Safety First has warned this issue is “swiftly becoming a runaway train that needs to be stopped” – with incidents surging over the past five years.<\/p>\n
The charity’s chief executive, Lesley Rudd, warned: “Poorly made batteries and accessories are of huge concern, and are a major route through which dangerous devices are entering people’s homes.<\/p>\n
“Without strong and enforceable changes, lives are at serious risk and further loss of life is, sadly, inevitable.”<\/p>\n
The London Fire Brigade’s deputy commissioner, Spencer Sutcliff, has said he is “extremely concerned” about the “worrying amount” of cases in the capital.<\/p>\n
E-scooters and e-bikes have now been banned from the Tube because of the fire risk they pose.<\/p>\n
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Although private e-scooters have been banned from being used in public areas nationwide, they are often ridden illegally in many urban areas.<\/p>\n
Which? has warned unsafe products are “increasingly saturating” online marketplaces, which undercut responsible businesses that comply with the law.<\/p>\n
The government launched a consultation last week that is designed to boost product safety in the UK.<\/p>\n
Under the plans, online marketplaces would be legally required to “prevent, identify and remove dangerous products being sold via their platforms”.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n