Record rise in London e‑bike and e‑scooter fires

New figures have indicated a record-breaking 206 e‑bike and e‑scooter fires broke out in London during 2025, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

Two Londoners died in the fires last year, with a total of five people since 2023.

A brigade spokesperson said the blazes were often caused by faulty or poorly built vehicles, usually bought online or second hand, leading to failures in lithium-ion batteries, conversion kits or chargers.

The LFB is now urging ministers to speed up regulation to improve the safety of these products and reduce the number of these incidents.

Firefighters were called to an average of 17 incidents a month last year, with a total of 171 e‑bike and 35 e‑scooter-related fires.

Lewisham and Southwark recorded the highest number of incidents, with 16 each, followed by Tower Hamlets with 15, Lambeth with 12 and Westminster with 11.

In March 2025, occupants of a home in Hither Green, Lewisham, heard a loud bang before a partition wall collapsed.

The fire blocked their escape route, forcing Jahmell Campbell, his father and his grandmother to flee by jumping from their first-floor flat.

He said: "It was like a grenade had been thrown into the flat. I jumped out of the front first-floor flat window to escape.

"I tried to go back into the building and go up the stairs but I knew if I opened the door to the flat, the fire would come out – the door handle was so hot.

"My grandma jumped and my dad was injured too. My grandma was in hospital for a week."

It was later discovered that the incident had been caused by a lithium-ion battery in an e‑scooter failing.

He added: "I am not sure how we all made it out of the house alive, but thankfully everyone is fine now."

New laws introduced last year gave the government powers to hold online marketplaces accountable for the products they sell, but the LFB is calling for secondary legislation to establish stricter standards for batteries and conversion kits.

Deputy commissioner Spencer Sutcliff said firefighters attend an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day, on average.

"Already in 2026, we have seen several fires involving lithium-ion batteries. These fires can be explosive and have devastating consequences."

Zack Polanski, Chair of the London Assembly Fire Committee, told the LDRS the committee raised "serious concerns" with the government in 2023.

"Despite several people already losing their lives in London, and dozens being injured due to failures of e‑bike lithium-ion batteries, it is evident that the issue is persistent and rising, which is a serious concern."

"The Fire Committee will continue to investigate these issues to keep Londoners safe from fire risk."

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