E-scooter and e-bike charging

Be safe

E-scooters and e-bikes might seem like a great and cheap way to get around, but they are emerging as one of the biggest causes of fire.

On average there was a fire every two days in 2023 in London, the most recent year for which figures are available. London Fire Brigade attended 143 e-bike fires along with 36 blazes involving e-scooters. Sadly, there were three deaths and around 60 injuries.

Many of these fires are caused by incompatible chargers, modifications to e-bikes, or faulty or counterfeit products purchased online. This includes chargers, lithium batteries, and conversion kits for e-bikes. Lithium battery fires can quickly spread out of control and start a large fire within seconds.

Be warned

These Electric Powered Personal Vehicles (EPPVs) should never be stored or charged in communal areas or escape routes; a fire breaking out can quickly block people’s ability to escape.

The lithium batteries in EPPVs hold a significant amount of energy and can expel this in the form of a very hot localised fire, or in some rare cases, an explosion, known as ‘thermal runaway’, which can be difficult to control and/or extinguish.

Toxic

These fires or explosions can occur when the battery is damaged or charged incorrectly or when it is involved in a fire that has started elsewhere. When involved in a fire, lithium batteries generate toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. These gases are similar in appearance to steam, which can mean that people are unaware of the dangers of being in close proximity.

Advice

Most of these vehicles are also not road-legal, and they are all banned from the Transport for London network.

The London Fire Brigade website has more detailed information about the risks of EPPVs and provides further safety advice.