Staying safe with e-bikes and scooters

While e-bikes and e-scooters offer a great way around the city, they pose a significant fire risk if not stored and charged correctly.

Earlier this week emergency services were called to a large fire in an apartment block in East London. It has been confirmed that the cause of the fire was the failure of a lithium battery from an electric vehicle. This is becoming increasingly common in London and on average there was a fire every two days in 2023 in London. London Fire Brigade attended 143 e-bike fires along with 36 blazes involving e-scooters.

The risk of a fire starting comes from the lithium batteries that power these vehicles. If these batteries become damaged or begin to fail in any way, they can start fires.

Our Building Safety Manager, Mickey Power has been out and about talking about how to store and look your after e-vehicles, take a look at what he has to say by watching the video below.

Help us to help you!

• Reduce the risk of overheating - batteries can get warm during their use. Allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge.
• Batteries should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate.
• Batteries can also pose a risk if they have been damaged, so try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried. Do not continue to use a damaged battery.
• Batteries should also never be exposed to extremes of temperature.
• Keep an eye out for warning signs that your battery might be failing and becoming a fire risk.

If you have any questions about charging or storing an e-bike or e-scooter in your home please contact our fire safety team by calling 0800 137 111 or emailing [email protected]

You can also find further information and advice on the London Fire Brigade website.