E-bike and E-scooter Fires Reach Record Highs Across the UK
Fire brigade figures obtained by the Press Association reveal a dramatic escalation in e-bike and e-scooter fires throughout the United Kingdom. In 2025, a staggering 432 e-bike blazes were recorded, representing a 38 per cent increase from the 313 incidents reported in 2024. This figure is more than five times higher than the 84 fires documented in 2021, highlighting a rapid and concerning trend.
Similarly, e-scooter fires have shown a significant upward trajectory, with 147 incidents recorded last year. This marks a 20 per cent jump from the 123 fires in 2024 and a substantial rise from the 88 incidents in 2021. The data, collected through Freedom of Information requests sent to all 49 UK fire brigades, provides a stark warning about the growing dangers associated with these popular modes of transport.
London Fire Brigade Records Highest Number of Incidents
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported by far the most e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2025, with 171 and 35 incidents respectively. Outside the capital, Nottinghamshire experienced the highest number of e-bike fires at 30, followed by Greater Manchester with 13, and Avon Fire and Rescue Service with 10. For e-scooter blazes, Greater Manchester recorded the most outside London at 13, with Avon Fire and Rescue Service next at 10.
These dangerous fires are frequently caused by failing batteries, conversion kits, or chargers. Products purchased via online marketplaces face a considerably higher risk of malfunction compared to those from established retailers, largely due to less stringent regulation and quality control measures.
Experts Warn of Growing Black Market in Counterfeit Batteries
Nick Bailey of BatteryIQ, an organisation monitoring e-bike battery safety, emphasised that involved e-bikes and e-scooters are "always cut-price products sold through online marketplaces with lax quality control." He further revealed a growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, particularly targeting delivery riders. These dangerous products are often built using battery cells reclaimed from used disposable vapes.
"I wouldn't keep a battery in my home without continuous monitoring – regardless of what the manufacturer's sticker says," Bailey cautioned, underscoring the severity of the risk.
Tragic Consequences and Urgent Calls for Action
The human cost of these incidents was tragically illustrated by the death of Eden Abera Siem, 30, who perished in hospital after a blaze at her Wood Green home in June 2025. Investigators determined the fire was probably caused by a failing e-bike battery. This marked the fourth fatal e-bike fire recorded in London alone.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of charity Electrical Safety First, described the issue as "swiftly becoming a runaway train that needs to be stopped." She warned that "poorly made batteries and accessories, often sold via under-regulated online marketplaces, are of huge concern, and are a major route through which dangerous devices are entering people's homes."
Rudd added a stark prediction: "Without strong and enforceable changes, lives are at serious risk and further loss of life is, sadly, inevitable."
Government Consults on New Safety Measures
In response to the escalating crisis, the Government published three consultations last week outlining plans to enhance product safety in the UK. These proposals include legally requiring online marketplaces to "prevent, identify and remove dangerous products being sold via their platforms."
Spencer Sutcliff, deputy commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, expressed that the brigade is "extremely concerned around the issue of e-bike and e-scooter fires, and the devastating impact these fires can have on lives and livelihoods." He confirmed that firefighters "continue to be called out to a worrying amount" of these incidents.
Transport Bans and Legal Loopholes
Due to the significant fire risk, privately-owned e-scooters have been banned from Transport for London's network since December 2021. This prohibition was extended to non-foldable e-bikes for most TfL services in March 2025, following an e-bike fire on a platform at Rayners Lane Tube station.
While private e-scooters are banned from use in public areas across the UK, they are frequently ridden illegally in many urban locations. Concurrently, legal trials of rental e-scooters on roads have been ongoing in towns and cities across England since July 2020.
Under current UK law, e-bike motors must cut out when a speed of 15.5mph is reached. However, police are increasingly discovering many e-bikes have been modified to achieve much higher speeds, adding another layer of risk to an already dangerous situation.
Consumer Advocacy Groups Demand Stronger Protections
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer rights policy, highlighted that "online marketplaces are increasingly saturated with unsafe products." She noted that "e-bikes and e-scooters are just some examples of items that can pose serious risks to consumers, while also undercutting responsible businesses that comply with the law."
Davies welcomed the Government's consultation on updating the product safety framework but stressed that "these duties must be strong and enforceable, with clear measures in place to protect consumers and reduce the risk of fires and other harm."
The combination of surging fire incidents, a growing black market in dangerous batteries, and inadequate regulation presents a clear and present danger to public safety across the United Kingdom. As e-bike and e-scooter usage continues to rise, urgent and effective action is needed to prevent further tragedies and protect consumers from these potentially lethal products.
