E-Bike Fires Reach Record High

E-bike and e-scooter fires reached a record high last year, with 432 e-bike fires recorded across the UK in 2025, up 38% on 2024, while 147 e-scooter fires represented a 20% jump in a year. The Telegraph has the story.

Fire brigade figures show that 432 e-bike fires were recorded across the UK in 2025 – up 38% from 313 the previous year, and are more than five times higher than the 84 in 2021.

There were 147 e-scooter fires last year, representing a 20% jump from 123 in 2024. In 2021, the figure was 88.

E-bike and e-scooter fires are often caused by the failure of batteries, conversion kits or chargers.

These products bought from online marketplaces have been found to be at greater risk of malfunctioning than those sold by established retailers because they are not subjected to the same level of regulation.

Nick Bailey of BatteryIQ, which provides a system to monitor the safety of e-bike batteries, said the e-bikes and e-scooters involved in fires are “always cut-price products sold through online marketplaces with lax quality control”.

He added: “There’s also a growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, particularly for delivery riders, built using battery cells reclaimed from used disposable vapes.

“I wouldn’t keep a battery in my home without continuous monitoring – regardless of what the manufacturer’s sticker says.”

Thirty-seven of the UK’s 49 fire brigades provided data for the number of e-bike and e-scooter fires they recorded each year between 2021 and 2025.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) recorded by far the most e-bike and e-scooter fires last year, with 171 and 35 respectively.

Nottinghamshire had the highest number of e-bike fires (30) outside the capital, followed by Greater Manchester (13).

Avon Fire and Rescue Service had the next highest amount (10). Greater Manchester had the most e-scooter blazes (13) outside London, ahead of Avon Fire and Rescue Service (10).

Fires involving lithium batteries used for e-bikes and e-scooters can spread rapidly and produce a toxic vapour.

Eden Abera Siem, 30, died in hospital after being rescued by firefighters when a blaze, which investigators found was probably caused by the failure of a charging e-bike battery, broke out at her home in Wood Green, north London, on June 21st 2025.

It was the fourth fatal e-bike fire recorded in the capital.

Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of charity Electrical Safety First, said the issue of fires caused by substandard e-bike and e-scooter batteries is “swiftly becoming a runaway train that needs to be stopped”.

Worth reading in full.