E-bike Fires are on the Rise in the U.K : 9 Simple Safety Steps to Prevent Lithium-battery Fires

Table of Contents:

• #ChargeSafe Campaign
•  9 Simple Safety Steps to Prevent Lithium-battery Fires
• Safe and Secure Storage Solutions

E-bike fires are on the rise in the United Kingdom. From the beginning of 2022 to April 2023, fire and rescue services across the UK responded to 329 fires associated with both e-bikes and e-scooters, and a total 565 fires since the start of 2020.

By September this year, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) had already tackled more fires than in the whole of 2022, responding to an incident every 2 days. 58 people were injured from these incidents, with 3 people sadly losing their lives.

#ChargeSafe Campaign

As part of efforts to target the rise of e-bike fires in the UK, LFB has launched their #ChargeSafe Campaign, aiming to provide awareness of safe charging and storage practices and call attention to the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries commonly utilised in e-bikes.

Following incidents where fire crews have discovered delivery bags at the scene of fires, outreach work for this campaign has involved firefighters across London meeting delivery drivers, distributing leaflets at restaurants, takeaways and bars, and partnering with companies like Just Eat, Deliveroo and UberEats in order to provide safety information about the risks of e-bike fires.

LFB has also developed a new tool that enables homeowners to carry out a thorough evaluation of their residence, receiving tailored advice regarding its fire safety status and ways to improve it.

 9 Simple Safety Steps to Prevent Lithium-battery Fires

Using the advice provided in the #ChargeSafe campaign as inspiration, metroSTOR provides 9 simple safety steps to help prevent the risks of lithium-battery fires.

1. Don’t Block Fire Escapes

• Maintain easily accessible safety escape routes that are free from any obstructions at all times, including e-bikes. This is absolutely essential as, in the event that a fire breaks out, safe evacuation of a building will remain possible at all times.

2. Maintain Smoke Alarms

• Fit smoke alarms in good, working condition in the area where batteries are charging, ensuring they are tested regularly. Heat alarms are also highly recommended.

3. Ensure Safe Storage Conditions

• Always seek to avoid storing e-bikes in the home and away from through routes to ensure optimal safety. In the event that household storage is absolutely necessary, batteries must be stored away from any flammable materials.

4. Only Buy Products That Meet Safety Standards

• Exercise caution when purchasing batteries from online marketplaces or the internet as there is a possibility that they may not meet recognised safety standards. It is strongly recommended to only buy batteries and chargers from a reputable seller that definitively meet UK safety standards.

5. Avoid Retrofitting

• Converting regular pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be incredibly risky. Most weren’t designed to be retrofitted in this manner and doing so poses a higher risk of fire. In addition, do not modify or tamper with the battery.

6. Follow Safe Practice with Batteries

• Only ever use the original charger that was supplied with the e-bike or an exact copy in the event that a replacement is needed. Incompatible chargers will damage the battery and increase the risk of fire. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to charging the battery.

7. Monitor the Battery for Warning Signs

• Check the condition of the battery intermittently for signs of improper function or damage, such as warped shaping. This is important in order to ensure that precautionary action can be taken before the battery is in danger of entering failure conditions, exacerbating fire risks.

8. Avoid Overheating and Overcharging

• Make sure batteries aren’t warm to the touch before charging as it may be more susceptible to failure and always unplug the charger to allow for an appropriate cool down period. In addition, it is strongly advised to only buy e-bikes with battery management systems that prevent overcharging automatically.

9. Always Remain Vigilant

• Always avoid charging the battery whilst sleeping. It is essential to be able to monitor a charging battery at all times.

Safe and Secure Storage Solutions

With a view to addressing the rise in e-bike fires across the UK, metroSTOR BIKE-E Storage & Charging Lockers have been developed to provide a weather-protected storage facility as a safe and secure alternative to the potentially hazardous internal storage of e-bikes and their batteries.

The easily accessible facility is ideal for residential environments with available external space, helping to establish safe containment away from respective buildings. Customisable for fire-resistant enclosure specification if the NFCC safe distance recommendations cannot be achieved due to site constraints, fire resistant cladding specifications integrate an internal fireboard lining system to ensure effective, proven containment in the unfortunate event of a fire.