Batteries for e-bikes and scooters contain energy of six hand grenades

There are calls for the government to regulate the sales of batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters like they regulate fireworks.

The calls come after a series of battery fires that have caused injuries and in some cases, deaths.

The report, by charity Electrical Safety First (ESF) recommends that the UK introduces mandatory third-party approval for the vehicles’ batteries.

This would force manufacturers to have their batteries approved by an accredited third party, such as a test lab.

Once approved, the products would then be supplied with a certificate proving they meet safety standards.

Batteries like six hand grenades

ESF estimates a fully charged e-bike battery can release a similar amount of stored energy as the amount of TNT (an explosive) contained in 6 hand grenades.

They say, when batteries fail a process called thermal runaway occurs, which releases a large amount of energy over a longer period of time, resulting in fire and toxic gas emissions, a bit like a firework.

They point out there have been a number of incidents where e-bikes have caught fire leading to serious injury and deaths.

Although national figures are not currently monitored, ESF estimates that there have been eight deaths so far this year as a result of e-bike fires.

Among them is a 31 year old mum and her two young children, who died in a fire in Cambridge last month, which fire services believe started after an e-bike being charged overnight caught fire.

Advice from fire services

Lucy Goldsmith is from Norfolk Fire and Rescue and has this advice if you do own an electric bike or scooter: "Don't charge overnight and don't charge them or leave them charging unsupervised.

"Make sure they're only charged for the period of time that they need to be charged for, and once they're fully charged, make sure that you're switching it off and unplugging it."

She also recommended making sure the device follows key regulation: "Make sure that you're using the official manufacturer's battery and charging device with it.

"There are lots of options out there, but you need to make sure that you have the ones with the right checks and regulations - it's much safer."

Finally, Lucy urged people to think about where they charge their devices, just in case a fire does start: "It's really important that where you're charging and storing your e-bikes and scooters isn't blocking evacuation at points.

"If you have the option of charging and storing it in a garage or shed, that would be great. If not, have a think about where you can best place the device, so it won't endanger you, or prevent you from exiting your property if you need to."

Only buy e-bikes and scooters from reputable retailers

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First warned that substandard e-bike and e-scooter batteries are “claiming lives”.

“Substandard versions of these products are claiming lives, our recommendations are a first-of-their-kind to look at real solutions to tackling these fires and ensuring only safe products end up in people’s homes.

“Nothing is more precious than life and we want to ensure we do all we can to keep substandard batteries off the market.”

She added that the public should buy their scooters only from a “reputable” retailer.

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