E-bike and e-scooter fires reach record high amid online marketplace warnings

E-bike and e-scooter fires reach record high amid online marketplace warningsE-bike and e-scooter fires reached a record high last year, an investigation has found, with concerns being raised over batteries sold through online marketplacesNewsNeil Lancefield and Neil Lancefield Press Association Transport Correspondent06:00, 07 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesE-bike and e-scooter fires reached a record high last year, research has revealed(Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)FIRES caused by e-bikes and e-scooters hit a record high last year, an investigation has revealed, prompting warnings to riders about purchasing from online marketplaces.‌Fire brigade statistics obtained by the Press Association reveal that 432 e-bike blazes were recorded across the UK in 2025. That represents a 38% rise from 313 the previous year, and is more than five times higher than the 84 incidents recorded in 2021.‌There were 147 e-scooter fires last year, marking a 20% increase from 123 in 2024. In 2021, that figure stood at 88. E-bike and e-scooter fires are frequently triggered by the failure of batteries, conversion kits or chargers.‌View 4 ImagesE-bike and e-scooter fires are often caused by battery failuresProducts purchased from online marketplaces have been found to carry a greater risk of malfunctioning than those sold by established retailers, as they are not subject to the same level of regulation.Nick Bailey of BatteryIQ, which provides a system to monitor the safety of e-bike batteries, said the e-bikes and e-scooters involved in fires are "always cut-price products sold through online marketplaces with lax quality control".‌He went on to say: "There's also a growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, particularly for delivery riders, built using battery cells reclaimed from used disposable vapes."I wouldn't keep a battery in my home without continuous monitoring – regardless of what the manufacturer's sticker says." The Pre...