E-Mobility: Pro-active steps to Prevent Fires

E-bikes and e-scooters offer portability, manoeuvrability and eco-friendly transport alternatives across our major cities, especially for individuals without a car. However, they also remain the UK’s fastest-growing fire risk, report the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

While they are central to decarbonising urban transportation, there is a vital need for increased education, evaluation and mitigation, in order to reduce the potential risks surrounding these e-devices and their potentially lethal lithium-ion batteries.

So what can be done?

Launch targeted awareness campaigns: Expand initiatives like the government’s “Buy Safe, Be Safe” campaign and the London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe campaign to focus specifically on in-home safety.
Implement mandatory safety leaflets: Require e-bike and e-scooter retailers to provide comprehensive safety information with every purchase, detailing proper storage and charging practices inside homes.
Collaborate with companies, big and small: Expand partnerships like the one between Deliveroo and the London Fire Brigade to educate gig economy workers about safe practices in their homes. How might this look in your community?
Utilise technology: Develop and promote smart, fire-resistant storage and charging systems which are safely distanced from dwellings. Where this is not possible due to site constraints, additional preventative measures such as fire-resistant cladding and internal fireboard lining should be installed. Find out more about safe storage and charging products at metroSTOR.

Create educational content: Produce and distribute educational outreach demonstrating proper in-home charging and storage techniques.
Learn from and promote best practices: Be inspired by action such as the vital, in-home e-vehicle safety check services and educational outreach for individuals in their homes, offered by Gentoo Housing Association.
Educate, Evaluate, Mitigate – how to deal with E-mobility Fire Risk. Find out more.