Exploding batteries on e-scooters and e-bikes pose the biggest emerging threat of fire in the capital, the London Fire Brigade has warned.
There have been 37 fires in the capital this year started by an e-bike or e-scooter, a 60 per cent increase on the same period last year.
A spokesman for the fire service said that fires involving lithium batteries were the “fastest growing fire risk” facing the city, and that it had particular concerns about the use of kits allowing regular bicycles to be converted into e-bikes, often with unregulated batteries bought online.
“Cheaper batteries purchased from online sources which don’t necessarily adhere to UK safety regulations are more likely to fail and present an increased fire risk. DIY installations can also lead to damage of the kit, increasing the chances of battery failure andthe likelihood of a fire,” the spokesman added.
Last year the London Fire Brigade attended 87 e-bike and 29 e-scooter fires. It is urging the government to improve regulation of the products, including better safeguards for customers using online marketplaces. Batteries are on sale online for between £300 and £1,000.
“The government should bring forward the product safety review being led by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and ensure safeguards are in place for people unknowingly purchasing dangerous products from online marketplaces,” the spokesman said. “The OPSS should carry out more market surveillance and research on products coming forward on the market to fully understand the risks associated with lithium battery technology.”
At present, e-scooters can be used legally only on private land or as part of one of 31 government trials across the country, although the rules are widely ignored. Riders in the government-run trials need to have a driving licence and insurance.
It has been estimated that there are a million e-scooters on Britain’s roads.
The Metropolitan Police spent at least £400,000 in 2021 on storage for the thousands of e-scooters that had been seized, even though these represented a tiny number of illegal vehicles.
There is no requirement for a driving licence to ride an electric bike and they do not need to be registered, taxed or insured. The rules say that they should not be able to travel power-assisted at more than 15.5mph, but the Met has seized modified vehicles that can do up to 60mph.