E-bike and e-scooter battery fires cause of 18 deaths and nearly 700 injuries
15 minutes ago
By Aidan McNamee (BBC Verify)
Eighteen people have died and nearly 700 have been injured in fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters, new data reveals.
Fatalities recorded by fire and rescue services across the UK from these blazes include individuals trapped inside burning homes, escaping through high windows, or inhaling toxic smoke.
More than 2,000 fires were started by e-bikes, e-scooters or their batteries between 2019 and 2025, according to Freedom of Information requests made by BBC Verify.
The number of incidents has increased annually, with nearly half occurring in homes or garages.
London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Pam Oparaocha expressed concern:
"From our investigations we know many of the fires we’ve attended have involved second-hand vehicles or the bike has been modified using parts bought online. We urge people to be extremely careful about where they buy their e-bike or e-scooter from."
Footage shows how quickly these fires can begin, with vehicles seemingly exploding and spreading flames within minutes.
The UK sees an average of 153,000 new e-bikes added to its roads each year since 2020, according to the Bicycle Association. Prices range from around £400 to £4,000 in high street retailers; however, second-hand vehicles and unregulated conversion kits can be found for as little as £150 online.
All lithium-ion batteries sold in the UK for these vehicles must meet safety standards, but fires still occur when they don’t adhere to rules, are damaged, modified, or used with incompatible chargers. The government’s "Buy Safe, Be Safe" campaign advises buyers to look for UKCE or CE product safety marks.
The number of e-bike and e-scooter battery fires has skyrocketed, rising from 32 in 2019 to 605 in 2025, according to BBC Verify’s data. The highest concentrations were recorded in urban areas, with London leading the way with 793 incidents over seven years, followed by Manchester (128) and West Yorkshire (93).
