LoginE-bike Safety: A Burning Issue
Fires started by e-bikes and e-scooters have cost lives and caused horrific injuries. With new legislation in the pipeline, what can be done to ensure they are safe, and that those selling unsafe devices are held accountable?
Richard Young, Editorial Lead Writer
Posted 13 January 2025 | JoTS Online
Content Tags: Analysis|Product Safety|National
There are few things more terrifying than a house fire. The smoke, the sound, the scorching heat – flames can take over in a matter of seconds, turning a place of safety into a death-trap. When a blaze broke out at Scott Peden’s house in Cambridge in June 2023 he almost lost his life, suffering burns and other serious injuries. He emerged from a coma four weeks later, only to be told that his partner Gemma, eight-year-old daughter Lilly and four-year-old son Oliver had all died in the fire.
The tragedy is one of an increasing number believed to have been caused by lithium-ion batteries contained in e-bikes and e-scooters which, when being charged, can overheat and explode with devastating results. According to the latest Home Office figures, between January 2021 and September 2023, in England alone there were 263 fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters, resulting in 70 non-fatal casualties and five deaths.
However, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) told the Journal, “we believe these figures are on the conservative side and believe the scale of the issue to be greater”.
When these fires occur, they can develop quickly and without warning… the result can be catastrophic
In the year following the tragedy, Peden has added his voice to a growing number of calls for urgent action to prevent more fatalities. In a hard-hitting video produced by the charity Electrical Safety First, he describes his experiences: “Before the fire, I had no idea about the dangers of these lithium-ion batteries. I bought my battery online and just assumed it would be safe – I never imagined it could be so dangerous. The battery exploded under my stairs whilst my family was asleep. Flames were coming up the stairs like a flamethrower. The fire and smoke filled the house up in seconds. I told them to jump but they couldn’t get out. I’ve lost everything from that one night and my heart has been left broken.”
Wayne MacKay is Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Electrical Safety First. He and his team have been sounding the alarm about the threat posed by e-bikes and e-scooters, and urging the Government to address the issue in its upcoming Product Regulation and Metrology Bill.
“We first looked into the issue last year because of our conversations with the London Fire Brigade, who were witnessing an exponential increase in fires caused by e-bikes in the capital,” MacKay says. “In our ‘Battery Breakdown’ campaign, we looked at issues to do with consumer behaviour, appropriate use and charging, as well as conversion kits and e-bike design standards. It was a complete 360-degree overview and from that work, we identified some really clear key issues that are causing the fires.
“We need to tighten up the procedures and the sanctions on online retailers and third-party sellers on online marketplaces who are selling dangerous products. Reputable retailers by and large provide devices which are safe – if you use them according to the instructions, you should be fine. But when you try to convert your bike with kits from an unregulated online marketplace, or if you purchase an additional charger that hasn’t come with your existing bike and is incompatible, that heightens the risk.”
CTSI is also calling for additional responsibilities on online marketplaces. As a result of its work with the APPG for Consumer Protection, the Institute produced its ‘Mind the Gap’ report which recommends, among other things, the introduction of clear legal duties for online marketplaces.
The NFCC has likewise demanded action: “We have long been warning of the fire safety risks posed by poorly manufactured or converted e-bike and e-scooter batteries, and calling for urgent regulatory and legislative changes to help keep people safe,” said a spokesperson.
“When these fires occur, they can develop quickly and without warning. This sometimes makes it harder for people to escape from buildings, particularly if the scooter or bike has been stored in a hallway or stairway, compromising escape routes. The result can be catastrophic, and we have sadly seen a number of serious injuries and deaths as a result of these fires.
“NFCC is working with Government departments and other partners to try and reduce the risk to the public, and to raise awareness of what people can do to minimise those risks. For example, we urge people to buy these batteries from reputable retailers, to follow the manufacturers’ instructions when charging, and avoid storing or charging e-bikes and e-scooters in escape routes like hallways.
“NFCC has also supported calls by Electrical Safety First for regulation that mandates third-party safety assessment for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries before market release.”
Double standard?
According to rules currently in place on the parliamentary estate in Westminster, ‘E-bikes, e-scooters and/or detachable battery packs must not be brought into any parliamentary building for charging or any other reason. This is to prevent the potential fire risk posed by e-scooters or e-bikes.’
No such blanket ban applies to ordinary residential buildings though. Does that mean the safety of MPs is more important than that of the general public? When approached for comment on the apparent discrepancy, a Government spokesperson said: “We take the risk of e-scooter and e-cycle fires very seriously, which is why this Government is acting to overhaul our product safety laws to help address the associated fire risks and remove unsafe products from the market swiftly.
“Users should ensure that they use only the charging equipment supplied with the device and should not tamper with the battery or settings.”
In February the Department for Transport published guidance on the safe storage and charging of the devices, alongside specific guidance for premises managers. However, the Government spokesperson said, “It is ultimately for building owners and managers to make decisions about the charging and storage of e-cycles and e-scooters on their properties in accordance with the guidance.”
Cause for optimism
At the time of writing, the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is making its way through parliament, and it does look set to address at least some of the issues surrounding e-bike and e-scooter safety, with the framework governing lithium-ion batteries expected to develop following the publication of the UK Battery Strategy in November 2023.
According to a Government spokesperson, “The Department for Business and Trade is acting now to overhaul our product safety laws to ensure authorities can remove unsafe products from the market as soon as possible.
“The dangers of lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes/e-scooters and the risk of fire/explosion remain a key issue. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is working cross-Government on a range of activity including enforcement, research and consumer awareness messaging. This is a complex issue, and the powers in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will allow us to determine what updates to our regulations may be needed to ensure the best protections for consumers and consistency with the majority of reputable retailers.”
In response to the launch of the Bill in draft form, Electrical Safety First’s Chief Executive, Lesley Rudd, commented: “We welcome the Government’s publication of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill. UK consumers are at risk from the never-ending tide of dangerous electricals sold via online marketplaces and this has to stop.
“Equally, e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries must be classified as high-risk and require third-party certification to prevent the increasing number of fires. We are encouraged by the Government’s prioritisation of these important issues. However, the devil will be in the detail. The legislation must be robust enough to prevent bad operators from risking the lives of UK consumers.”
Someone else who believes there is no room for complacency around e-bike and e-scooter safety is Scott Peden, who knows all too well what is at stake. “If my story doesn’t show the desperate need for a change in regulation, then I don’t know what will,” he says. “I’m urging all the political parties to come together to tackle the issue of e-bike fires so that no one has to go through what I did. My life has been ruined but I can help to save someone else’s.”
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Content Tags: Analysis|Product Safety|National
