Explosive Rise in E-Bike and E-Scooter Fires
Fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters have soared to unprecedented levels, setting a dangerous new record in 2025. Across the UK, authorities reported 432 e-bike fires, marking a staggering 38% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, e-scooter fires climbed to 147 incidents, a 20% rise from the 123 cases recorded in 2024.
Faulty Batteries and Unregulated Products at the Core
Experts point to failing lithium-ion batteries, substandard conversion kits, and unsafe chargers as the primary culprits behind these alarming fire outbreaks. Products sourced from online marketplaces face heightened risks due to lax regulatory oversight compared to those sold by established retailers.
Nick Bailey from BatteryIQ emphasizes that the devices involved are often “cut-price products” manufactured under poor quality control standards. He highlights a troubling trend: “A growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, especially among delivery riders, relies on battery cells scavenged from disposable vaping devices.” Bailey warns, “I wouldn’t store any battery at home without continuous monitoring, regardless of the manufacturer’s label.”
Fire Hotspots and Rapid Spread of Toxic Vapors
A Freedom of Information request to all 49 UK fire brigades revealed that the London Fire Brigade recorded the highest number of fires, with Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire also emerging as hotspots outside the capital. Lithium battery fires in e-bikes and e-scooters can escalate rapidly, releasing toxic vapors that endanger lives and property.
Urgent Calls for Regulatory Overhaul
Electrical Safety First warns that this crisis is “swiftly becoming a runaway train that needs to be stopped.” Chief Executive Lesley Rudd stresses the dire consequences of poorly manufactured batteries and accessories entering homes unchecked. “Without strong and enforceable regulations, lives are at serious risk, and further fatalities are sadly inevitable,” she cautioned.
Deputy Commissioner Spencer Sutcliff of the London Fire Brigade expressed deep concern over the “worrying volume” of incidents across the city. The fire risk has already led to a ban on e-bikes and e-scooters on the London Underground.
Illegal Use and Marketplace Challenges
Despite a nationwide ban on private e-scooter use in public areas, illegal riding persists in many urban centers, exacerbating the fire hazard. Consumer watchdog Which? highlights how unsafe products increasingly flood online platforms, undermining responsible businesses that comply with safety laws.
Government Moves to Strengthen Product Safety
In response, the government recently launched a consultation aimed at tightening product safety standards. New proposals would legally require online marketplaces to actively prevent, identify, and remove dangerous products sold through their platforms, aiming to halt the surge in hazardous e-bike and e-scooter fires.
