- Fires related to lithium-ion batteries are on the rise
- E-bikes, e-scooters and vapes are to blame
- There are simple steps you can take to stay safe
New UK firefighting data collected in 2025 shows that lithium-ion batteries are responsible for an increasing number of fires, with emergency services dealing with an average of one of these incidents every five hours last year.
As The Guardian reports, UK fire services were called to 1,760 fires related to lithium-ion batteries in 2025, according to Freedom of Information data requested by insurer QBE. That works out to 4.8 incidents per day, and that equates to a 147% increase over the previous three years.
Almost all rechargeable gadgets use a lithium-ion battery, from smartphones to toothbrushes. Vapes, e-bikes and e-scooters are specifically mentioned in this latest report and appear to be responsible for the increase in fires.
When manufactured and used correctly, lithium-ion batteries should be safe to use. However, when they are not configured correctly or become damaged, something called thermal runaway can occur – leading to a rapid increase in temperature, venting of gas and flames, and ultimately the explosion of the battery.
Products that have not been properly certified can be potentially risky, as can unauthorized charging devices. Lithium-ion batteries that are not properly disposed of can also lead to fire as they are initially collected or processed in recycling facilities.
“Thermal runaway caused by these types of batteries burn differently, take much longer to tackle and can require up to 10 times more water to contain,” QBE’s Adrian Simmonds told The Guardian. “Awareness of safe charging, storage and disposal is critical to keeping people and property safe.”
3 tips to keep your e-bike safe
🚨Five people were taken to safety by firefighters after a fire involving an e-bike broke out in a shop with flats above Wealdstone High Street on Friday morning 8 May. #Harrow #News 📹 Sahil Anand pic.twitter.com/lALDWdZv3A11 May 2026
E-bikes aren’t the only reason lithium-ion battery fires have become more common, but they are a big part of the problem. There were 520 firefighter calls to e-bike fires in the UK in 2025, The Guardian reports, compared to 149 in 2022.
The first tip to ensure you and your e-bike don’t add to these stats is to buy from authorized dealers and stick to trusted manufacturers. This applies to entire e-bikes, as well as replacement batteries, battery chargers and conversion kits.
Second, charge your e-bike battery somewhere you can see it and keep an eye on it whenever possible – if something starts to go wrong, you’ll have a better chance of noticing it if you’re not sleeping or out of the house all day. Ideally, charge them in a shed or garage separate from your house.
Third, use the battery charger that came with your e-bike or (if you need a replacement) one approved by the manufacturer. And as always, keep your batteries away from flammable materials and make sure your home is well equipped with the necessary fire detection technology.
“We believe regulation can help improve product safety and reduce the chance of consumers on online marketplaces being exposed to faulty or counterfeit products such as ebike batteries, chargers and conversion kits,” Spencer Sutcliff, Deputy Commissioner for Fire Prevention at the London Fire Brigade, told The Guardian.
A “disproportionate” number of incidents were caused by “poorly manufactured, modified or converted e-bikes,” a spokesman for the UK National Fire Chiefs Council told The Guardian. “Regulation and guidance have not kept pace with technology.”
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