Surge in lithium-ion battery fires
Government action urged as new figures show surge in lithium-ion battery fires
Trade and consumer bodies are warning that action is needed in the light of a sharp increase in e-bike and e-scooter lithium-ion battery fires.
The British Metals Recycling Association is urging the government to lead a new campaign to highlight the dangers of fires from exploding lithium-ion batteries, saying the problem has been “ignored for too long”.
The warning comes as new figures show that the number of fires caused by exploding lithium-ion batteries in e-scooters and e-bikes soared by almost 150% in 2021, according to data obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request by insurance company Zurich. The number of such fires to the end of September 2022 shows a further increase of 28% on 2021’s monthly average figure.
In London alone, firefighters attended 88 fires caused by e-bikes in 2022 – an increase of 80% on the 49 responded to in 2021. Many of the fires have been attributed to e-bike conversion kits, which can be used to convert a standard push bike into an electric bike.