The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has reported a record number of fires caused by lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters.

LFB said that many electric bikes and scooters caught fire while being charged, with many of the blazes caused by unregulated batteries bought online. So far this year, three people have died, with 51 people injured in fires believed to have been caused by faulty batteries that do not meet UK safety standards.

At Housing for Women, we want you to know the potential fire risks caused by e-scooters and e-bikes.

What do you need to do?

If you own an e-bike or e-scooter or any other electric chargeable device, please make sure you:

make sure the battery and charger meet UK safety standards and that you always use the correct charger
never charge your vehicle while sleeping or not at home
unplug the charger once it’s finished charging
don’t cover the charger, as this could lead to overheating
never tamper with the battery, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions

and

never keep an electric bike or scooter on a fire escape route. This blocks the escape route and can cause added dangers including toxic fumes from exploding batteries.

If you witness an electric bike or scooter battery catching fire, leave the building immediately and call the fire brigade. Do not tackle the blaze yourself or try to move the vehicles. For more information, please visit the LFB website here.