- Fires related to lithium-ion batteries are on the rise
- E-bikes, e-scooters, and vapes are being blamed
- There are simple steps you can take to stay safe
New firefighting data from the UK gathered across 2025 shows that lithium-ion batteries are responsible for a growing number of fires, with emergency services dealing with one of these incidents every five hours across last year, on average.
As The Guardian reports, UK fire brigades were called to 1,760 fires related to lithium-ion batteries in 2025, according to Freedom of Information data requested by insurance company QBE. That works out as 4.8 incidents a day, and equates to a 147% increase over the previous three years.
Just about every gadget that can be recharged uses a lithium-ion battery, from smartphones to toothbrushes. Vapes, e-bikes, and e-scooters are specifically mentioned in this latest report, and seem to be driving the rise in fires.
When manufactured and used correctly, lithium-ion batteries should be safe to use. However, when they aren’t properly configured or become damaged, something called thermal runaway can occur — leading to a rapid increase in temperature, the venting of gas and flames, and ultimately the explosion of the battery.
Products that haven’t been properly certified can potentially be risky, as can unauthorized charging devices. Lithium-ion batteries that aren’t disposed of properly can also lead to fires, as they’re initially collected or as they’re processed in recycling plants.
“Thermal runaway caused by these types of batteries burns differently, takes 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 essential to keeping people and property safe.”
3 tips for keeping your e-bike safe
🚨Five people were led to safety by firefighters after a fire involving an e-bike broke out at a shop with flats above on Wealdstone High Street on Friday morning, 8th May. #Harrow #News 📹 Sahil Anand pic.twitter.com/lALDWdZv3AMay 11, 2026
E-bikes aren’t the only reason that lithium-ion battery fires have become more common, but they’re a big part of the problem. There were 520 firefighter call-outs to e-bike fires in the UK in 2025, The Guardian reports, compared to 149 in 2022.
The first tip for making sure you and your e-bike don’t add to these statistics is to buy from authorized vendors and to stick to trusted manufacturers. That goes for entire e-bikes, as well as replacement batteries, battery chargers, and conversion kits.
Secondly, charge your e-bike battery somewhere where you can see it and keep an eye on it, whenever possible — if something does start to go wrong, you have a better chance of spotting it if you’re not asleep or out of the house for the whole day. Ideally, charge them in a shed or garage separate from your house.
Third, use the battery charger supplied with your e-bike, or (if you need a replacement) one that’s been approved by the manufacturer. And as always, keep your batteries away from combustible materials, and make sure your home is well-equipped with the necessary fire detection tech.
“We believe regulation can help improve product safety and reduce the chance of consumers being exposed on online marketplaces 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 spokesperson for the UK National Fire Chiefs Council told The Guardian. “Regulation and guidance have not kept pace with technology.”
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