The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is calling on Government to accelerate consultation on the secondary legislation underpinning the Product Regulation and Metrology Act, in response to continued high levels of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters. The Product Regulation and Metrology Act is intended to strengthen product safety and enforcement.

London recorded more than 200 such fires last year, with firefighters attending 206 incidents in 2025 alone, an average of 17 per month. Around 83% of these involved e-bikes. Tragically, two people lost their lives last year as a result of e-bike fires, bringing the total number of fatalities in London linked to these incidents to 5 since 2023.

The Brigade’s investigations consistently identify lithium-ion battery failure as a primary cause, often linked to poorly manufactured or counterfeit batteries, unsafe conversion kits, incompatible chargers and products that do not meet UK safety standards. Items purchased online, whether new or second-hand, are frequently implicated. These batteries can fail due to poor build quality, damage, overcharging or misuse, leading to rapid fire development and significant consequences.

In December, Deputy Commissioner Spencer Sutcliff wrote to the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection urging that consultation on the Act’s secondary legislation be brought forward without delay.

Spencer Sutcliff (Deputy Commissioner and operational director for prevention, protection and policy) observed:

“On average, firefighters are currently attending an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day. This year, we’ve already seen several fires involving lithium-ion batteries. These fires can be explosive and have devastating consequences.”

Since its launch in 2023, LFB’s #ChargeSafe campaign has worked to raise awareness of the risks associated with unsafe lithium-ion batteries and charging practices. However, the Brigade stresses that further engagement is needed, particularly among gig economy riders who rely on e-bikes for work and may use modified bikes or conversion kits that fall outside recognised safety standards. LFB continues to call on delivery platforms to do more to share safety advice directly with riders.

Deputy Commissioner Sutcliff continued:

“We understand the importance of green and sustainable modes of transport and recognise the positive impact of e-bikes and e-scooters. However, poorly built, non-compliant or damaged lithium batteries in these products, as well as the use of mismatched batteries and chargers, present unique fire safety challenges.”

Sutcliff concluded:

“It’s clear from the number of fires we’re seeing that not everyone is aware of the very real risks that exist. We’ve been running our #ChargeSafe awareness campaign for nearly three years, but the latest data shows this work is becoming more important than ever. We need the continued support of the Government, partners and other relevant organisations to ensure the safety advice is reaching as many people as possible and that dangerous products are no longer readily available to purchase online.”

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