E-bikes and scooters were linked to more than half of lithium battery fires in the year to January 2026 in the capital, according to London Fire Brigade (LFB) data.
Of 565 battery fires, 283 of those were linked to e-bikes and e-scooters, far ahead of cars which were the cause of over 100 callouts.
Generators and batteries were the cause of over 150 incidents, over a fifth of recorded blazes.
Richard Field, deputy assistant commissioner for prevention and protection at the London Fire Brigade, highlighted the steep frequency of callouts related to e-bikes.
Field said: “Since we launched our #ChargeSafe campaign in 2023, on average our firefighters have been to called to a fire every other day with the majority of blazes involving e-bikes rather than e-scooters.
“Poorly built, non-compliant or damaged lithium batteries in these products, as well as the use of mismatched batteries and chargers, present unique fire safety challenges for our crews.”
When comparing fires in January 2025 to January 2026, e-bikes and scooters were leading causes of fires leading to 15 fires this year.
A report published by Energy Saving Trust reported that despite fears of runaway EV fires, when one cell’s implosion leads to a chain reaction across a battery, combustion cars were 83 percent more likely to catch on fire.
Cars are the second most likely cause over the data however lag far behind cheaper and more easily bought e-bikes.
LFB continued explaining that counterfeit products failing to meet UK safety regulations were prominent causes of lithium fires, urging consumers to never charge while sleeping.
Field said: “The Brigade’s investigations show that lithium-ion battery failure, conversion kits and chargers are often the cause of these fires – and that items purchased online, which don’t meet UK safety standards, whether bought new or second-hand, are particularly prone to going up in flames.
“Our advice is to store and charge these items away from your escape route. If they have to be stored inside, make sure you have a smoke alarm fitted and follow our advice on safe storage and charging.”
Featured image credit: Joseph Terry
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