Jan 31, 2024
Electric Bikes Are Causing Increasing Numbers Of Fires In The UK
In 2023, UK fire services responded to 70% more e-bike/scooter fires than in 2022. The risk factor also increases with the growth in the popularity of lithium battery vehicles such as e-bikes and e-scooters. Manufacturers are producing lithium batteries at an unprecedented rate, and some suppliers are sourcing batteries from abroad. UK-produced lithium batteries have to meet UK safety standards, batteries outsourced from overseas don’t have to meet those standards. Let’s explore different ways of lowering the fire risk in lithium battery bikes and scooters.
Warning Signs That Your E-bike Battery Is A Fire Risk
The first step in preventing lithium battery fires is to understand how and why they happen. Spotting damage early can save your life later down the line. In 2023, there were at least 10 fatalities and 40 serious injuries as a result of reported 199 fires.
Excessive heat: It is normal for batteries that are in use to be a little warm however, if it is extremely hot to touch it is likely your battery is a fire risk.
Bulging/Swelling: If it is misshapen, bulging, and swollen, it is a common sign that it’s failing.
Noise: Failing lithium batteries are often reported to make a hissing or cracking sound.
Strong Smell: If you begin to notice that there is an unusual smell coming from your e-bike, it’s probably a sign of a failing battery.
Decreased performance: If it won’t charge up as fast or to full capacity anymore it’s a sign that it’s faulty.
Smoke: Once it begins smoking, your battery is on fire, call the fire department.
How To Safely Charge Lithium Batteries
The Waking Watch Relief Fund application period has now closed, however, you may still be able to implement the alarm system that was funded by Waking Watch Relief. To do this, you may need to contact your local government and see if there is any further support available.
Waking Watch Services
A waking watch comprised of serving firefighters offers an unparalleled level of service compared to other providers. In the event of a fire, our team takes swift action, alerting emergency services and ensuring that everyone in the building is fully aware of the emergency and capable of evacuating safely.
While our expertise is often sought for high-rise tower blocks, we are versatile and capable of working with various building types. We emphasise the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and welfare of not only your property but, crucially, the residents, visitors, and employees.
The Benefits of Using A Waking Watch Service
By choosing Fire & Evacuation Services for your waking watch services, you will benefit from:
Site Specific Risk Inspection
Site Specific Emergency Response Plan & Training
Premises Information Box maintenance
NFCC Simultaneous Evacuation Strategy
Liaising with local Fire & Rescue Service
Evacuation Chair Trained
Personnel on the ground in 4 hours
Establish Risk Matrix
Develop Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan
Risk Assessment reviewed
Significant findings considered
Patrol and Reporting established
When Do You Need Waking Watch Services?
When it comes to lithium battery fire prevention, charging your battery correctly is key to battery health.
You must follow these steps to decrease lithium battery fire risks:
Follow manufacturer instructions
Unplug the charger once it’s finished charging
Ensure you use the correct charger
Check the battery and charger meet UK safety standards. See here.
Charge it on a hard, flat surface so heat can dissipate properly
Store it at room temperature, with no extreme temperatures
Don’t leave it charging whilst you’re sleeping or out of the house
How To Safely Store E-bike & E-scooter Batteries
Correct storage of lithium batteries is vital to damage control if a fire does break out. The main reason why storage is a key component of preventing battery fires is to prevent worse outcomes in the event of a fire. With this in mind, you should consider a secure place in or around your home to store your bike or scooter.
Places you should NOT store your lithium batteries include but are not limited to:
In front of a fire door
In a main walkway that leads to an exit
On a carpeted surface when it’s charging
Near combustible materials
Freezing room
Overheated room
Places you SHOULD store your lithium batteries include but are not limited to:
A cool garage or shed
A wall mount in a cool room
A waking watch service is also required in response to an alarm system failure or update.
Purchasing an e-bike or e-scooter could be a great idea, they’re convenient, efficient, and a reliable mode of transport especially in big cities. There are many things to consider before buying or converting a lithium-ion battery bike such as regulations, reviews, and the law.
Regulations: In the UK, manufacturers have to adhere to regulations during production to ensure their product is safe and fit for use. The regulations come under
Reviews: Placing trust in other people’s opinions can be hard but, if they’re a ‘verified purchase’ and they’ve spent time reviewing the product, it is worth taking the time to read it. Of course, you can’t take all reviews at face value but if a product has 5000 5* reviews you can trust that it’s most likely a good quality product.
Law: “It is an offence to place a lithium-ion battery on the market if it is not a safe product.” As we know, people don’t always abide by the law when it comes to making money so you have to be vigilant when choosing a supplier.
The most important thing to do is research, don’t buy the cheapest possible lithium battery option because it could end with serious consequences.
Office For Product Safety And Standards (OPSS) received information on 199 fires occurring in 2023 involving an e-bike or e-scooter. 74 of these were from e-bike conversions, 29 were from manufacturers, 36 were e-scooters and the remaining 60 were untraceable. 50% of the fires in e-bikes and e-scooters notified to OPSS took place in a dwelling, with 18% taking place outdoors, 9% taking place in other buildings and a further 7% taking place in a shed or garage. See here for more information.
Conversion Kits And The Risks
Conversion kits help people to add an electric motor to their bicycles. Converting your current bike into an e-bike is risky, you can easily damage the battery whilst trying to fit it yourself which poses a huge fire risk. It’s recommended that you hire a professional to fit the conversion kit for you to lower the risk of damage to your health or property. London Fire Brigade recommends not buying second-hand as the battery could already be damaged upon purchase.
Learn more about the fire extinguishers to use in the event of a fire.
Lowering The Risk Of Lithium Battery Fires
Whilst e-bikes and e-scooters are a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to cars, however, the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries need to be acknowledged. As lithium-ion battery fire incident rates continue to rise in the UK, owners must know the risks and how to lower them. Following safety protocols and correct storage is vital to the health of the e-bike battery.
Investing in good quality products, following manufacturer instructions, and ensuring proper battery care can reduce the fire hazard risk. When considering buying, converting, or maintaining your current electric bike or scooter, staying educated and vigilant is necessary for your safety and the safety of your property. Taking the right precautions will help keep yourself and others safe.
If you’d like more information please contact us here.