The Hidden Fire Risk of E-Bikes and E-Scooters in the UK

E-bikes and e-scooters are booming in popularity across the UK. They’re efficient, eco-friendly and ideal for urban travel — but their rapid uptake has also brought a significant fire safety concern that residential building managers, landlords and occupants need to understand.

At the heart of the problem are the lithium-ion batteries that power these vehicles. While these batteries enable high performance and long range, they also contain a lot of stored energy in a small space, making them prone to dangerous failures if misused, damaged, overcharged or fitted with poor-quality components.

Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Can Be Dangerous

Lithium-ion batteries are popular because of their efficiency and energy density — but those same qualities make them a fire risk when they undergo a process called thermal runaway. This is when the battery overheats uncontrollably, leading to extremely high temperatures, rapid flame spread, toxic smoke and even explosions.

Fire and rescue services in the UK and abroad have repeatedly warned that:

• Charging in communal areas and stairwells can put multiple homes at risk.
• Aftermarket batteries and incompatible chargers — especially those from unverified online sellers — are often linked to failures.
• Fires can occur even when the device isn’t charging.

Fire Trends in 2025–26

Recent UK information shows the scale of the issue is rising rather than falling:

London Fire Brigade figures indicate that in 2025 firefighters attended 206 e-bike and e-scooter fires, an average of more than 17 incidents each month. Around 83 % of these involved e-bikes, and lithium-ion battery failure was frequently identified as the cause.

In addition:

• Fires caused by these devices are expected to set new record highs as incidents grow rapidly in large cities.
• The London Fire Brigade has called on Government to accelerate new product safety rules under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to better control dangerous batteries and chargers being sold online.

Real UK Incidents Highlight the Risk

Several fires in 2025 and early 2026 underline just how impactful these battery fires can be:

• In Portsmouth, an e-bike being charged in a hallway on the tenth floor of a high-rise block caught fire. Thankfully, the automatic sprinkler system activated immediately, helping suppress the blaze and allowing crews to extinguish it. Several residents were evacuated and treated for smoke inhalation, but the incident could have been far worse without the sprinkler response.
• In Essex, a discarded e-scooter thrown in a household bin ignited a fire in a refuse lorry, illustrating that risks aren’t confined to charging accidents — improper disposal can also trigger dangerous fires.
• In Acton, London, an e-scooter spontaneously ignited in the entrance hallway of a converted property, trapping residents and forcing one person to escape through a window.

These incidents show that e-bike and e-scooter fires can start in homes, communal corridors and waste streams — creating hazards not just for the owner but for neighbours, firefighters and building fabric alike.

Common Causes and Contributing Factors

Fire services and safety organisations point to several recurring issues:

⚠️ Faulty or Low-Quality Products
Many incidents involve batteries or chargers bought from unverified sources where build quality, battery management systems (BMS) or safety standards may be poor.

⚠️️ Incorrect Charging Practices
Leaving devices charging overnight or unattended increases the risk of unseen battery failure.

⚠️ Improper Storage
Keeping e-bikes or scooters in hallways, stairwells or near escape routes increases fire spread and evacuation risk.

⚠️ Conversion Kits and Aftermarket Batteries
Self-installed conversion kits and non-OEM batteries, which often lack robust safety electronics, are frequently linked to battery failures and fires.

What This Means for UK Residents and Property Managers

As incidents rise, it’s vital that awareness and precautions keep pace:

✔ Only purchase e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries from reputable UK-compliant retailers.
✔ Always use the manufacturer’s charger and follow safe charging locations and procedures.
✔ Avoid charging or storing devices in enclosed escape routes or communal areas.
✔ Dispose of old batteries responsibly via household recycling centres — never in general waste.

For landlords and high-rise property managers, these fires highlight why fire risk assessments must explicitly consider e-bike and scooter storage and why installing appropriate active fire protection systems — including sprinklers — is becoming an urgent priority in multi-occupancy settings.

Looking Ahead

The surge in e-bike and e-scooter usage has brought mobility benefits — but it has also created a growing fire safety issue that demands attention. With fire services warning of record numbers of incidents and fatal fires linked to battery failures, clearer regulation, safer products and strong fire safety practices are essential to protect people and properties across the UK.

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