House fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters are rising as these products increase in popularity.
In 2023, the London Fire Brigade reported:
- 93 e-bike house fires (40% of which related to conversions)
- 18 e-scooter house fires
77% of those involved battery failure. The fires have predominantly been caused by two things:
- Using a charger that didn't come with the product and isn't produced by the same manufacturer
- Bike conversions where a home kit has been used
Charging your e-bike or e-scooter at home
Our Trading Standards Team advises that you should:
- Always use a manufacturer approved battery and charger
- Source replacements from the same manufacturer
- Regularly check the charger and battery for signs of overheating, deformation, noise, smell or reducing performance
If you have safety concerns or need consumer advice about an e-bike or e-scooter
If you have safety concerns about an e-bike or e-scooter that you have bought, or about any accessories for these such as a charger (e.g. overheating when charging), please stop using it immediately.
You can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service where advisers trained in consumer law can provide comprehensive advice on your legal rights and how to get a resolution.
Remember that e-scooters cannot legally be used on roads or public footpaths unless they are part of the national government scheme. If you use an e-scooter illegally on the road, you can face a fine or points on your licence.
Converting a bike to an e-bike
According to the Fire England website, most fires linked to modified bikes have occurred when a consumer has carried out the conversion themselves.
That said, fires have also occurred in e-bikes modified by businesses. With the market being largely unregulated at present, it is important to do your research to ensure you use a competent, knowledgeable business to carry out such a conversion.
View further advice on e-bike conversions on the Fire England website.
If you have safety concerns or need consumer advice about an e-bike conversion
If you have had a bike converted to an electric bike and have concerns about the safety of the conversion, or have any other concerns of this nature that you'd like to report to us: