The Government has been urged to regulate e-bike and e-scooter batteries in the same way as fireworks amid a surge in fires related to the vehicles’ batteries.
The report, by charity Electrical Safety First (ESF), recommends the UK force manufacturers to have their batteries approved by an accredited third party, such as a test lab.
Once approved, the products would then be supplied with a certificate proving they meet safety standards.
If implemented, the UK would follow New York City’s lead, after it introduced the requirement following a series of fatal fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
It comes after a flat fire caused by an e-bike that had been left charging overnight killed a mother and two young children in Cambridge earlier this month.
Meanwhile London Fire Brigade has been called to an average of one e-bike or e-scooter fire every two days so far this year. In 2022, the brigade attended a total of 116.
In one blaze, which broke out on New Year’s Day, a 21-year-old named Sofia Duarte lost her life. Miss Duarte was in a flat in Old Kent Road when a converted e-bike in the property failed “catastrophically”, bursting into flames in the entrance hall and preventing her from getting out.
The new ESF report warns that without better regulation now, e-bikes and e-scooters risk an outright ban in future.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, said that a fire caused by a battery bursting into flames is “unique” and requires “special measures”.
“The huge amount of energy that is released over time when a battery bursts into flames is unlike other fires – in a matter of minutes a room can be decimated,” she said.
“This unique type of fire requires special measures to tackle the increasing problem.”
She warned that substandard e-bike and e-scooter batteries are claiming lives.
“Substandard versions of these products are claiming lives, our recommendations are a first-of-their-kind to look at real solutions to tackling these fires and ensuring only safe products end up in people’s homes.
“Nothing is more precious than life and we want to ensure we do all we can to keep substandard batteries off the market.”
She added that the public should buy their scooters only from a “reputable” retailer.
“Once in people’s homes they are incredibly difficult to get out. Our recommendation would help to ensure that there are stricter rules around new e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries entering the market and to get on top of this problem once and for all,” she said.
“We would urge people to only buy their e-bike or e-scooter from a reputable retailer and to use a compatible charger with the device to reduce the risk of a ferocious fire.”
London Fire Brigade also urges people to reduce the risk of a lithium battery catching fire by charging batteries safely, learning and spotting the warning signs that a battery is dangerous, and only having bicycles converted to e-bikes by a professional.
The brigade warns the batteries within them can cause “incredibly ferocious” blazes.
“Lithium battery fires can spread quickly out of control, and within minutes have started a large fire,” says advice on its website. “When these batteries are charged in communal areas or escape routes, a fire breaking out can quickly block peoples ability to escape.”
More more information and safety tips, visit the LFB website.
