The close family friend of a model who died in an e-bike battery fire has said her death was not in vain following news that the bikes will be banned from the London Underground.
Alda Simoes, 47, had been campaigning for Transport for London to ban e-bikes from trains and stations in the wake of Sofia Duarte’s death in a “ferocious fire” on New Year’s Day in 2023.
The 21-year-old had gone to her boyfriend’s home on Old Kent Road from her job at a nightclub shortly before a fire started in a lithium battery power pack for an e-bike, which was placed near the front door of the building to charge.
Following her tragic death, Ms Simoes, alongside Ms Duarte’s family, launched a petition for a stringent review of e-bikes on public transport “to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from occurring again”.
Hearing that the e-bikes will be banned from the London Underground, Ms Simoes told the Standard: “I feel like she would be so proud to know that in her short life she has made such a big impact.
“I’m very happy we have been fighting for this for months. We wish this had happened a long time ago but they have done this before someone passed away or got injured.
“Nobody got killed. For that I am pleased.
“Sofia wanted to be famous. She always wanted to be someone big. I think we achieved that for her. She would have been very happy knowing she made an impact.
“Unfortunately, she passed away, but her death brought awareness of the dangers.”
In September, the Government unveiled the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, aiming to address the sharp rise in safety concerns around e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries.
Ms Simoes added that Ms Duarte’s mother hopes that the bill may become “Sofia’s law” when it is passed, to honour her daughter’s death.
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Transport for London announced the ban on Wednesday “to ensure the safety of customers and staff”.
TfL will also ban e-bikes from the London Overground, the Elizabeth line and the DLR (Docklands Light Railway).
However, foldable e-bikes – such as those produced by Brompton – will still be permitted. London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has an electric Brompton.
Passengers found with a non-foldable e-bike on TfL services will be told to leave and could be fined up to £1,000.
TfL says it is the first transport operator in the UK to ban e-bikes. Tube unions have long been concerned about the fire risk from e-bike batteries.
An e-bike or e-scooter battery has the same amount of energy as six-hand grenades, according to the Fire Protection Agency.
Ms Simoes first met Sofia when she was 10 years old and had moved into her building.
She remembered the young woman as a “very special young lady” who always had a strong personality.
She is believed to have been the first person to die in London due to an e-bike fire.
Ms Simoes continued: “She was caring. She was very close to her mum. This is a death that could be prevented if lessons are put in place.”
The e-bike ban comes into force on March 31 and will be enforced by TfL’s 450-strong team of enforcement officers.
