The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has issued an urgent safety alert following a series of severe fires linked to e-bikes, e-scooters, and lithium-ion batteries. The warning comes after three significant incidents occurred across the capital in just one week highlighting the growing fire risk posed by these devices.

Investigations indicate that all three fires were caused by catastrophic lithium-ion battery failures in e-bikes, becoming one of the capital’s fastest-growing fire risks.

The first incident took place at a semi-detached property in Mitcham, prompting 26 emergency calls. A second fire broke out in a Bethnal Green block of flats, spreading rapidly between multiple floors. The third occurred in Walthamstow, where an e-bike being charged in a living room ignited moments after a popping sound was heard.

Richard Field, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection at the London Fire Brigade, said: “The level of destruction each of these fires has caused cannot be underestimated. Three homes have been completely damaged by fire and smoke. It’s extremely fortunate that no-one has been seriously hurt.”

Field continued: “In all three cases, these fires were caused by catastrophic lithium-ion battery failures. When these batteries fail, they can cause ferocious fires and the consequences can be devastating. We urge people who own these devices to follow the safety advice that will help to protect those around them and their properties.”

In addition, Field stated: “We want to urgently remind e-bike owners that using mismatched batteries and chargers, notably so incompatible or counterfeit ones, can cause serious fires such as the one in Bethnal Green. If the wrong charger is used, this can lead to the battery overheating, failing and starting a fire in seconds.” 

Further, Field observed: “We recommend that devices are never left charging unattended. At the Walthamstow fire, the owner was on hand to react when the charging battery burst into flames. If the fire had happened when the occupants were asleep, it could have been a very different story.”

Incidents on the rise

The LFB reports that London is on track to see the highest number of e-bike and e-scooter fires ever recorded. The brigade is currently attending around 18 fires every month, which could exceed 200 incidents in a single year for the first time.

Since 2023, four people have died and over 100 have been injured in fires caused by e-bike battery failures across the capital.

Reducing the risk of e-bike and e-scooter fires

The FIA strongly supports the LFB’s call for greater public awareness and action. Owners can take simple but vital steps to reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires:

• Never charge e-bikes or e-scooters overnight or unattended.

• Only use genuine, approved chargers and batteries supplied or recommended by the manufacturer.

• Avoid using aftermarket or counterfeit batteries.

• Store batteries in a cool, dry location away from escape routes and combustible materials.

• Do not overload plug sockets.

• Have electrical installations checked regularly by a qualified professional to ensure they are safe and compliant.

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