• New survey reveals some e-bike owners using incompatible chargers, risking inadvertently overcharging a battery 

• Major new report calls for the banning of universal chargers  

• Some owners admit to charging in hallways or exit routes, risking compromising the escape route in the event of a fire  

• New video shows how an overcharged e-bike battery goes up in flames in seconds  

• Scott recalls jumping from a window after his neighbour’s e-bike burst into flames in the communal hallway, blocking their escape route 

Some e-bike and e-scooters owners may be using incompatible chargers to power their devices, a survey reveals, inadvertently risking a ferocious fire that could destroy a room in minutes. 

A survey of 1,000 e-bike and e-scooter owners across the UK found 40% of those use a secondary after-market charger to charge their e-bike or e-scooter. 

If this charger is compatible with the battery there is little risk. However, worryingly, of that 40%, more than 1 in 3 say that their charger is not compatible with the voltage of the battery, whilst nearly 1 in 5 (19%) don’t know.  

The findings have prompted concerns some users may not be aware of the risks associated with incorrectly charging e-bike batteries. 

Whilst many owners of these devices will charge safely, some may be unaware that when incompatible chargers are used, they risk supplying the battery with too much voltage. 

This can damage the cells and cause a catastrophic process called thermal runaway, where the battery goes into an uncontrollable self-heating chemical reaction, characterised by ferocious fires which can destroy a room in minutes. The charity is calling for a ban on universal chargers for e-bike and e-scooter batteries, whereby a charger comes with multiple outlets to connect to various batteries. 

The findings come as the charity releases its new report, Battery Breakdown, looking at ways to stem the spate of deadly fires across the country that have been caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries. 

NEW VIDEO DEMONSTRATES AN OVERCHARGED BATTERY FIRE: 

A new video by the charity released as part of its newly published report, Battery Breakdown, simulates an overcharge situation, causing a frightening fire.  

Toxic white smoke can be seen pouring from the battery at first, which can be incredibly harmful if inhaled. Seconds later, sparks and flames erupt from the battery, as thermal runaway commences, consuming the battery in flames as it shoots around the room, due to the huge amount of energy being released.  

DANGEROUS CHARGING: 

Many e-bike and e-scooter owners are also charging their devices in areas that risk compromising escape routes, research shows.  

Of those surveyed, 44% admitted to charging their device in a communal area of the property they live in, such as a hallway or staircase, that is not inside their immediate home.  

If an e-bike or e-scooter battery fails a catastrophic fire can occur in seconds, if this takes place in an exit way  the escape route will be entirely blocked. 

The impact of a catastrophic fire is heightened when you are asleep as reaction times will be worse but research shows more than half (51%) of e-bike and e-scooter owners surveyed say they also charge their device overnight when they are sleeping, leaving them with little time to respond in the event of a fire. 

Worryingly, more than a quarter (27%) admitted to charging their device in their hallway inside their home, whilst more than 1 in 10 (13%) said they charge it in their bedroom. 

The charity recommends charging your device away from any vital exit ways so you can escape in the event of a fire, where possible for some, an outhouse may be  the safest alternative.  

Martyn Allen, Technical Director of Electrical Safety First, commented: “Incorrectly charging your e-bike or e-scooter battery comes at a dangerous cost. Due to the large amount of energy stored in these batteries, the risk of fire is significantly higher if the battery becomes unstable. It’s essential that you use a compatible charger, ideally the one that that came with the device and never block any exit ways when charging, the results could be fatal.”  

The charity previously revealed highly dangerous e-bike and e-scooter chargers for sale via online marketplaces, lacking a fuse and presenting a risk of fire. It urges consumers to buy their e-bike, e-scooter and compatible charger from a reputable manufacturer or retailer.  

There are concerns the overall charging process for e-bike and e-scooter batteries is currently too complicated for consumers.  

The charity is recommending clearer markings are put on the outlets of batteries to specify what voltage a charger should be.  

I JUMPED FOR MY LIFE   

Scott Angus, 32 from London, feels lucky to be alive after a neighbour’s e-bike burst into flames last year in the communal hallway of a converted Victorian house, blocking their escape route. He was forced to jump from the second-floor window with his partner and dog:  

“I was woken up around 1am to the strong smell of carbon. I opened the door and all I could see was a wall of thick black smoke. If that smoke had got inside our flat any sooner, I probably wouldn't be here.” 

Scott recalls. “Our main way out was blocked.  

“I panicked, phoned the fire brigade and saw my partner jump from our second-floor window onto a ledge 10 feet below. She landed on her back badly and has had problems with it since. I grabbed our dog and jumped for my life onto the same ledge.  

"An e-bike battery was being charged on the ground floor in the building’s communal hallway caught fire, it blocked our escape route, and we had no way out except for the windows.  

“The fire brigade rescued us and the neighbours with ladders. When we got down, all I could see was chaos. The front door to the building had been blasted off. The fire brigade were trying to put the fire out and I could see lots of individual batteries all over the floor. They looked like shotgun cartridges.  

 “My partner damaged her back when she jumped and she’s had issued with it ever since, it’s impacted her quality of life. Our possessions were so badly damaged from smoke and heat, our clothes, bikes and even the headboard of our bed were ruined. We just feel lucky to have escaped with our lives.”   

Others have not been so lucky, as Electrical Safety First cite media reports confirming that eight lives have been lost since the start of 2023 due to e-bike battery fires.  

On New Years Day, Sofia Duarte was killed when an e-bike in her home burst into flames, whilst a mother and two children lost their lives in Cambridge this year in a fire that is believed to have been caused by a charging e-bike.  

The charity is also calling for e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to be regulated in the same way as fireworks currently are, by forcing them to be approved as safe by a third party. New York City has introduced this measure after being plagued by e-bike and e-scooters fires.  

Notes to editors:   

• Electrical Safety First is the leading UK charity dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electricity in UK homes. 

• The report, titled ‘Battery Breakdown – why are e-scooter and e-bike batteries exploding in people’s homes and what can be done about it?’ assesses the landscape of e-bike and e-scooter fires and offers recommendations to help tackle the problem. 

• Where possible we ask that you cite our report with a follow link back to our webpage where the report is hosted in full. Please use the following link: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/battery-breakdown/  

• Please ensure correct accreditation is given to various images and video assets. These have been included in the file names in the downloadable assets link. 

• When referring to the charity in copy, we kindly ask that you refer to Electrical Safety First in full, abbreviations of ESF, if necessary, can follow thereafter.