E-Bike Fires Every Other Day | 5 Deaths and Regulation Still Pending

Five people dead. 206 fires in a single year. London firefighters responding to an e-bike battery fire every other day. Yet the regulations and proper enforcement that could prevent these tragedies remain stuck in limbo.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Act received Royal Assent in the summer of 2025, but without secondary legislation, it's lacking the necessary force. Meanwhile, gig economy workers continue using modified e-bikes with non-compliant batteries, online marketplaces sell dangerous products without any fear of consequence, and vulnerable Londoners (who don't even own the bikes involved) are dying in their own homes.

It's a safety crisis that demands immediate attention from health and safety professionals. London-based or otherwise.

What's Behind London's Alarming Rise in E-Bike Fires?

London firefighters are attending an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day. In 2025, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) responded to 206 such incidents, with lithium-ion battery failures, conversion kits, and non-compliant chargers identified as the primary culprits. Tragically, five people have lost their lives since 2023, and none of them owned the e-bike involved in the fire.

There is a clear systemic product safety failure here that's putting lives, homes, and livelihoods at risk.

Why Are These Fires So Dangerous?

Lithium-ion batteries fail catastrophically when poorly manufactured, counterfeit, damaged, overcharged, or paired with incorrect chargers. When they fail, they explode and escalate rapidly, progressing from ignition to full engulfment in minutes. They produce toxic smoke and trigger thermal runaway reactions that are nearly impossible to put out.

The LFB's investigations revealed that products purchased online from marketplaces that don't enforce UK safety standards are significantly more prone to failure. This has also been seen across the globe, from New York to Sydney, where poorly regulated online sales have created a perfect storm of consumer risk.

The Gig Economy's Hidden Safety Crisis

Around 83% of London's e-bike fires involve e-bikes, with clear connections to the gig economy. Delivery riders working for platforms like Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Deliveroo often rely on modified e-bikes fitted with conversion kits that may not meet safety standards.

Deputy Commissioner Spencer Sutcliff has called on these platforms to take responsibility, but the issue is far more complex when examined in greater detail. Gig workers operate under financial pressure compounded by the cost-of-living crisis and purchase the cheapest equipment available without fully understanding the risks. When livelihoods depend on keeping moving, that bargain battery's compliance status becomes secondary.

What Does Effective Regulation Look Like?

The Product Regulation and Metrology (PRAM) Act received Royal Assent in summer 2025. However, the secondary legislation that will give it real enforcement power has not yet materialised. Each month of delay results in more fires, injuries, and potentially deaths.

Effective regulation must address:

• Import controls: Preventing non-compliant products from reaching UK consumers.
• Marketplace accountability: Holding platforms responsible for products they host and profit from.
• Consumer education: Combining enforcement with awareness campaigns like the LFB's #ChargeSafe initiative.

What Can Health and Safety Professionals Do Now?

While awaiting regulatory action, organisations can implement practical controls:

For employers: Provide safe storage away from escape routes, install appropriate charging stations, prohibit modified equipment for work use, and integrate battery safety into risk assessments.

For facilities managers: Review fire safety procedures, ensure adequate detection systems, consider designated charging areas with fire suppression, and communicate clear storage rules.

For safety professionals: Include lithium-ion battery hazards in training, raise awareness about non-compliant products, and advocate for policies protecting vulnerable workers.

Balancing Sustainability and Safety

There's an uncomfortable irony here. E-bikes and e-scooters represent exactly the sustainable transport we should encourage, reducing emissions, easing congestion, and improving air quality. But sustainability cannot come at the cost of safety.

The solution isn't to ban e-bike use. It's ensuring every product meets basic safety standards through government action, platform accountability, and consumer awareness working together.

The Path Forward

We're at a critical juncture. The PRAM Act provides the framework, but without swift action on secondary legislation, the problem will worsen. For health and safety professionals, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity, advocating for stronger regulation while implementing practical risk controls.

Most importantly, we can refuse to accept that five deaths are simply the price of progress. Product safety regulation exists precisely to prevent foreseeable harm from reaching consumers.

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