Lithium-ion battery fires in the UK: e-bikes and e-scooters worst affected

The worst situation is with e-bike and e-scooter batteries

Lithium-ion battery fires rising sharply in the UK

The number of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries has surged across the United Kingdom. According to UK media reports and research by insurer QBE, firefighters recorded 1,760 such incidents in 2025 alone - close to five call-outs every day.

Over the past three years, the total count of these fires has jumped by 147%. The biggest driver has been electric bicycles and electric scooters, which now account for almost a third of all battery-related blazes.

E-bikes and e-scooters: incidents and the London picture

In 2022, UK fire services received 149 reports involving electric bicycles catching fire; by 2025, that figure had risen to 520.

London has been hit particularly hard. In the capital, fires involving electric transport made up 44% of all call-outs connected to battery fires. Over three years, five people have died in London as a result of these incidents.

What is causing the fires

Firefighters point to low-cost, uncertified batteries, chargers, and conversion kits sold widely via online marketplaces and internet retailers as the main reason. They warn that the e-scooter and e-bike market is expanding faster than meaningful safety and enforcement measures are being put in place.

A major hazard is so-called thermal runaway. In this state, a battery rapidly overheats internally, releases toxic gases, and can then ignite - or even explode. These fires are far more difficult to extinguish than typical fires.

Where fires start and why charging is risky

Almost half of these incidents - around 46% - happen inside homes. Batteries most often ignite while charging, particularly overnight or in narrow hallways close to flat exits.

Disposal problems and the financial impact

Incorrect disposal is another serious issue. In the UK, lithium batteries are regularly thrown away with general rubbish, leading to fires in refuse lorries and at recycling facilities. Insurers estimate the damage caused by such fires already exceeds £1 billion a year.