E-bike battery fires prompt call for better regulation

Batteries for e-bikes should beryllium regulated successful the aforesaid mode arsenic fireworks, dense machinery oregon aesculapian devices due to the fact that of the occurrence hazard they pose, a foundation has said.

Currently, manufacturers tin self-declare that e-bike and e-scooter batteries conscionable information standards.

But campaigners Electrical Safety First says the batteries should necessitate third-party support earlier sale.

Cambridgeshire Fire Service said the motorcycle was the "most probable cause" of the fatal blaze successful June, and it is investigating the e-bike that was near charging successful the flat.

Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade said it has been called to a occurrence caused by e-bike batteries connected mean erstwhile each 2 days successful 2023.

"The immense magnitude of vigor that is released implicit clip erstwhile a artillery bursts into flames is dissimilar different fires," said Electrical Safety First main enforcement Lesley Rudd.

A country could beryllium destroyed "in a substance of minutes" she said.

"This unsocial benignant of occurrence requires peculiar measures to tackle the expanding problem."

The UK should follow regularisation akin to rules introduced successful New York City successful March 2023, Ms Rudd believes.

The US metropolis has signed into instrumentality authorities which requires e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to conscionable standards acceptable by a 3rd enactment with expertise successful artillery technology.

"We request to get connected apical of this contented present to forestall much lives being lost," said Ms Rudd.

"There are excessively galore reckless operators successful this space, specified arsenic third-party sellers connected online marketplaces, who are risking the lives of the nationalist and giving liable manufacturers of these products a atrocious name."

A authorities spokesperson told the BBC: "The Office for Product and Safety and Standards is moving intimately with the occurrence brigade to guarantee merchandise information issues are decently assessed and enactment is taken to support consumers.

"If manufacturers don't comply with merchandise information regulations, due enforcement enactment volition beryllium taken, specified arsenic ordering the removal of the merchandise from the market."

According to the London Fire Brigade website, e-bike and e-scooter batteries "can commencement incredibly ferocious fires" if they are damaged oregon fail.

"Lithium artillery fires tin dispersed rapidly retired of control, and wrong minutes person started a ample fire," it says.

Lancaster-based Andrew Beaton said his household are facing "upwards of £50,000 successful damages" aft an e-bike occurrence destroyed their home.

"If it wasn't for my son, we wouldn't beryllium here," helium said.

"He was up to get a portion astatine nighttime and shouted to america aft seeing the e-bike connected occurrence - I sprinted downstairs, swung unfastened the beforehand doorway and threw the motorcycle outside.

"In that moment, each the batteries fell retired and were exploding similar manus grenades."

Despite removing the e-bike from the house, helium said the occurrence had already dispersed to the stairs.

"I impulse anyone reasoning of buying these e-bikes not to - it's not worthy your life," helium said.

Neil Odin, prevention pb for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), said determination has been a "worrying increase" successful fires progressive lithium robust batteries utilized by e-bikes.

"These are peculiarly concerning erstwhile they hap successful people's homes with the incorrect charging oregon usage of items specified arsenic e-bikes oregon e-scooters," helium said.

"More consciousness of the risks is required with a precise adjacent look astatine the standards associated with these products."

The NFCC recommends that people bash not complaint their device's artillery portion they are sleeping. It besides says:

Aside from regulating the merchantability of the batteries themselves, Electrical Safety First said e-scooters could beryllium made safer if regularisation required the artillery to beryllium positioned differently, truthful it was much shielded from damage.

It said the existent determination of batteries connected e-scooters - typically nether the ft sheet - tin exposure them to harm from the crushed arsenic good arsenic water. A mandatory summation to the tallness of the ft sheet by 15 centimetres would minimise interaction damage.

The UK Bicycle Association (BA), the commercialized relation representing the UK rhythm manufacture said it would "fully support" specified regulation.

"The BA peculiarly welcomes the comments astir regularisation of online marketplaces, which person been identified by occurrence services arsenic the way by which galore problematic products are sourced," it said.

James Metcalfe, laminitis of e-bike steadfast Volt, told the BBC determination was a proliferation of substandard batteries online and "consumers request to beryllium educated that inexpensive imported batteries tin beryllium highly dangerous".

He said said firms similar Volt already had robust prime standards and welcomed immoderate measures that would amended support the consumer.