E-bike and e-scooter fire Last year a record reached a high level as fire experts warned of “incredible danger” Yield By some Fast popular vehicle,
Firefrails were called at 211 Equipment incorporation events Last year, according to data from the office safety and standards (OPSS) office.
Statistics are voluntary for fire fighting officers to show and show an incomplete picture across the country, but they clarify Increase in call-out207 in 2023 and just 26 in 2020.
Last year, the fire resulted in 86 casualties and eight deaths, and almost all were connected to batteries or generators, which reflects concerns on DIY-type e-bike conversions using online purchased kits.
In August, eight-year-old Luke Abiston O’-Dennel died of carbon monoxide poisoning, as an e-bike was accused in the front room of his house in Mercesis. Lithium-ion of the bike exploded due to ignition of the battery, A Inquiry,
Just before Christmas, a family house in Catford in London, was destroyed The fire caused by the battery on the second hand e-bike exploded.
the year before, As reported By IndependentA father’s wife and two children were killed in a fire launched by a replacement lithium e-bike battery, bought on eBay, which was left charging.
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade, who created most of the incidents shared by the OPSS last year, said: “E-bike and e-scooter is a green and durable way to travel around our city.
“However, Stark reality is that some of these vehicles are proving incredibly dangerous and are at greater risk of malfunction, especially if they have been modified, fit or converted with other hand products or if the battery is used with the wrong charger.”
The kit can be purchased online at £ 150 to convert bicycles in e-bike, in which batteries and charger are obtained separately.
But there are concerns over the safety of the battery and chargers purchased online.
earlier this year,Independent Was found earlier A UPP (Unit Pack Power) was being sold at the Facebook marketplace, a branded e-bike battery, which was under the government’s return notice at the risk of fire.
There is also pressure on the government to deal with the issue, Liberal Democrat MP Clive Jones recently urged ministers to ensure that they are included in the product regulation and metrology bill, which aims to tighten the product safety on the online marketplace.
Experts say high road retailers have more liability for product safety than selling on online marketplace platforms.
Richard Field, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of London Fire Brigade, told Independent: “Currently, there is no equal level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters sold through online marketplace or auction sites compared to high road shops, so we cannot believe that products meet the correct security standard.
“Product regulation and metrology bill e-bikes and e-scooters have a truly welcome step in the drive to reduce the worrying risk of fire, eventually by reducing the possibility of customers being exposed to purchasing unsecured products, such as lithium batteries, charger and conversion kits that are dangerous and do not meet Britain’s safety standards.
But Charity Electrical Safety earlier stated that the bill required more laws, including a compulsory requirement for third-party certification on the safety of the equipment sold online. It also wants new safety standards for devices.
A spokesperson said: “The increasing number of e -bike and e -traveler battery fired across the country – and those who bring disastrous results – are a clear reminder of the need for new laws to deal with these blazes.
“These fire are often caused by converted or heavy modified e-bikes, or inferior batteries. While we are encouraged that the government has introduced the product regulation and metrology bill, which gives powers to deal with the fire of e-bike battery, it is important that this law is strong enough to deal with the head.”
An Amazon spokesperson said security was a top priority and participated with LFBs to safely use and store customers to customers safely.
He said, “We need all the products offered in our store to follow the applicable laws and regulations. We monitor the product safety concerns, and we proceed to the need of vendors of e-promotent products to provide documents conducted by a recognized laboratory,” he said.
A spokesperson of the Department of Trade and Trade said that a campaign – called By Safe, B Safe – Lithium -Ayan was launched in response to an increase in the fire of battery.
He said: “We take the risk of the fire caused by lithium-ion batteries very seriously, in which are associated with e-bike and e-scooter.
“We are also updating our product safety laws to help the public protect, as well as taking action on ports and borders to prevent unsecured or non-non-accessible products from reaching consumers.”