Record Surge in E-Bike and E-Scooter Fires Triggers Safety Alert
E-bike and e-scooter fires have reached a new peak in the United Kingdom, according to an investigation that has prompted urgent warnings for riders about purchasing these vehicles from online marketplaces. Fire brigade figures obtained by the Press Association reveal that 432 e-bike blazes were recorded across the UK in 2025, marking a significant increase from previous years.
Alarming Statistics and Regional Breakdown
The 2025 figure represents a 38% rise from 313 e-bike fires in 2024 and is more than five times higher than the 84 incidents reported in 2021. Similarly, e-scooter fires saw a 20% jump, with 147 blazes last year compared to 123 in 2024, up from 88 in 2021. The London Fire Brigade recorded the highest numbers, with 171 e-bike and 35 e-scooter fires in 2025. Outside the capital, Nottinghamshire led with 30 e-bike fires, followed by Greater Manchester with 13, while Avon Fire and Rescue Service reported 10. For e-scooters, Greater Manchester had 13 blazes, with Avon recording 10.
Causes and Risks of Battery Failures
These fires are often caused by failures in batteries, conversion kits, or chargers, particularly those purchased from online marketplaces. Products sold through these platforms are at greater risk of malfunctioning due to lax regulation and quality control compared to those from established retailers. Nick Bailey of BatteryIQ, which monitors e-bike battery safety, stated that fires typically involve "cut-price products sold through online marketplaces with lax quality control." He highlighted a growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, often built using cells from used disposable vapes, especially popular among delivery riders. Bailey emphasized, "I wouldn't keep a battery in my home without continuous monitoring – regardless of what the manufacturer's sticker says."
Human Toll and Expert Warnings
The dangers are starkly illustrated by incidents such as the death of Eden Abera Siem, 30, who died in hospital after a blaze probably caused by a charging e-bike battery broke out at her home in Wood Green, north London, in June 2025. This was the fourth fatal e-bike fire recorded in the capital. 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, "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. Without strong and enforceable changes, lives are at serious risk and further loss of life is, sadly, inevitable."
Government and Regulatory Responses
In response, the Government has published consultations aimed at boosting product safety, including proposals that would legally require online marketplaces to "prevent, identify and remove dangerous products being sold via their platforms." Spencer Sutcliff, deputy commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, expressed extreme concern about the "devastating impact these fires can have on lives and livelihoods," noting that firefighters continue to respond to a worrying number of incidents. Transport for London has banned privately-owned e-scooters from its network since December 2021 due to fire risks, extending this to non-foldable e-bikes in March 2025 after an e-bike caught fire at Rayners Lane Tube station.
Consumer Advocacy and Future Measures
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer rights policy, pointed out that "online marketplaces are increasingly saturated with unsafe products," with e-bikes and e-scooters posing serious risks while undercutting law-abiding businesses. She stressed the need for strong and enforceable duties for online marketplaces to prevent unsafe products from being sold by third-party sellers, as outlined in the Government's consultation. Additionally, police are finding more e-bikes modified to exceed the legal speed limit of 15.5mph, compounding safety issues. Legal trials of rental e-scooters on roads continue in England, but private e-scooters remain banned in public areas across the UK, though often ridden illegally in urban locations.
