A 21-year-old woman died in a fire caused by a converted e-bike battery in South London, an inquest has concluded. Sofia Duarte perished in the blaze at her flat on Old Kent Road, Southwark, on New Year's Day 2023.
Southwark Coroner's Court heard that lithium-ion batteries ignited in the communal ground floor hallway below Ms Duarte's maisonette. Two electric bikes were charging in the hallway, and the fire started in one that had been converted from an ordinary bike. Ms Duarte, who tried to escape via the staircase, died of burns and smoke inhalation. Nine other residents jumped from windows to safety.
The London Fire Brigade told assistant coroner Xavier Mooyaart that it was not possible to explain precisely why the batteries ignited. The family's request for a Prevention of Future Death Report was declined due to insufficient evidence. Ms Duarte's friend, Alda Simoes, 46, said the accidental death conclusion was expected, but urged the government to introduce laws to protect consumers.
Charlie Pugsley, assistant commissioner for fire safety at the London Fire Brigade, thanked the family for raising awareness and called for stricter regulation of e-bike conversion kits, batteries, and chargers sold online. Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, urged the government to adopt a forthcoming Bill requiring third-party certification of e-bikes and batteries. The Department for Transport said all e-cycles must meet product safety regulations and advised using only supplied charging equipment.
