Concerns rise over growing e-bike battery fires

AN increase in the number of UK fires associated with lithium batteries, which are used in e-bike and e-scooters, is causing concern in the corridors of Westminster.

Lord Foster, who as Don Foster was a Liberal-Democrat MP for Bath, is lobbying his colleagues to get the Government to tighten rules on the safe use and disposal of the batteries.

His researcher, Ron Bailey, is also the parliamentary advisor to Electrical Safety First, a UK charity dedicated to reducing the deaths and injuries caused by electricity.

He said: “Lithium battery fires are on the increase – there have been over 1,000 in the past few years, nearly 200 injuries and a dozen fatalities. 

“Homes have been destroyed. The cost to the UK runs into billions (of pounds).”

Lord Foster and Electrical Safety First are now promoting a Bill (The Safety of Electric-Powered Micro-Mobility Vehicles and Lithium Batteries Bill) to ensure greater safety in the use and disposal of lithium batteries and they are aiming to get it into law as soon as possible. 

“We have the support of many national organisations,” said Bailey, “including the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Royal Society for Public Health. 

“In addition two coroners have called for the law to be tightened to ensure greater safety.”

Lord Foster’s Bill, if approved, would require third party independent approval-testing for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries before entering the UK market.

He also wants to tackle the number of landfill fires (said to be more than 200 annually, making up 48 per cent of all fires, costing a reported £158-million and contributing to pollution) by ensuring that Government establishes regulations for the safe disposal of used lithium-ion batteries.

Electrical Safety First has previously said that there was “growing concern over the rise in fatalities, injuries and devastating fires from electric bikes and electric scooters.”

8th September 2024