A record number of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters in 2024 has prompted renewed warnings from safety experts about the potential dangers associated with these increasingly popular forms of transport.

According to data from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), there were 211 reported fire incidents linked to e-bikes and e-scooters last year. While the figures are submitted voluntarily by fire services and don’t capture the full national picture, they do highlight a notable upward trend – with 207 incidents reported in 2023, compared to only 26 in 2020.

These incidents led to 86 injuries and eight fatalities in 2024, with the majority of fires traced back to issues with batteries or generators. Concerns have been raised particularly around do-it-yourself e-bike conversions using kits readily available online.

In a tragic case last August, eight-year-old Luke Albiston O’Donnell died from carbon monoxide poisoning after an e-bike battery caught fire while charging in the front room of his Merseyside home. An inquest determined the fire was sparked by the ignition of the bike’s lithium-ion battery.

Similarly, just before Christmas, a family in Catford, southeast London, lost their home after a second-hand e-bike battery exploded, causing a devastating blaze. The previous year, a replacement lithium battery bought on eBay led to a fire that killed a woman and two children.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade, which accounted for most of the OPSS-recorded incidents, commented:

“E-bikes and e-scooters are a green and sustainable way to travel around our city.
However, the stark reality is that some of these vehicles are proving to be incredibly dangerous and are at greater risk of malfunctioning, particularly if they’ve been modified, fitted or converted with second-hand products or if the batteries are used with the incorrect chargers.”

Conversion kits to turn conventional bicycles into e-bikes can be found online for as little as £150, often requiring separate purchases of batteries and chargers. But growing concerns surround the safety and compliance of these components, especially when bought from online marketplaces.

Earlier this year, The Independent reported finding a UPP-branded e-bike battery, previously flagged with a government withdrawal notice for fire risk, still available on Facebook Marketplace.

Calls for government action have been growing. Liberal Democrat MP Clive Jones recently urged ministers to ensure e-bike and e-scooter products are addressed within the new Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, aimed at tightening safety rules for online sales.

High street retailers are held to stricter safety obligations than online sellers, a gap which has alarmed fire safety professionals. Richard Field, Deputy Assistant Commissioner at London Fire Brigade, told The Independent:

“At the moment, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters sold via online marketplaces or auction sites when compared to high street shops, so we cannot be confident that products meet the correct safety standard.
The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is a really welcome step in the drive to reduce the worrying risk of e-bike and e-scooter fires, ultimately by decreasing the chance of customers being exposed to buying unsafe products, such as lithium batteries, chargers and conversion kits which are dangerous and do not meet UK safety standards.”

Electrical Safety First, a leading safety charity, welcomed the bill but warned that further action is needed. They have called for new safety standards for e-mobility devices and a legal requirement for third-party certification of online sales.

A spokesperson said:

“The growing number of fires linked to e-bike and e-scooter batteries occurring across the country – and the devastating consequences they bring – is a stark reminder of the need for new laws to tackle these blazes.
These fires are often caused by converted or heavily modified e-bikes, or substandard batteries. Whilst we’re encouraged the government has introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which gives powers to tackle e-bike battery fires, it is vital that this legislation is robust enough to tackle this issue head-on.”

An Amazon spokesperson said the company prioritises safety and has worked with London Fire Brigade to share guidance on safe usage and storage of e-bikes and e-scooters.

“We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations. We monitor for product safety concerns, and we go further by requiring sellers of e-mobility products to provide documented testing carried out by an accredited lab.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said a new awareness campaign – Buy Safe, Be Safe – had been launched in response to the rise in lithium-ion battery fires.

“We take the risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries very seriously, including those linked to e-bikes and e-scooters.
We are also updating our product safety laws to help keep the public safe, as well as taking action at ports and borders to stop unsafe or non-compliant products from reaching consumers.”

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