As the Brigade sees a record number of fires caused by either an e-bike or e-scooter, firefighters are issuing a timely Black Friday warning to Londoners about the dangers of buying these products from online marketplaces.
London firefighters have responded to a record annual number of e-bike and e-scooter battery fires this year, highlighting the need for greater awareness of how dangerous these products can be.
During one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year, the Brigade brought its #ChargeSafe campaign to the heart of the capital’s West End today (Tuesday, 25 November 2025) and broadcast an awareness video on the largest digital screen in Europe in Piccadilly Circus. Grabbing the attention of shoppers, the video warned Londoners about the dangers of buying unsafe products and firefighters offered face-to-face advice and handed out leaflets.
Fires involving lithium-ion batteries are ferocious, spread quickly, create toxic smoke and can have catastrophic consequences. Sadly, this year two people have died in fires caused by an e-bike – taking the total up to five since 2023. Tragically, in all five of these separate incidents, those who lost their life did not own the e-bike that failed.
On average, firefighters have responded to 18 fires a month throughout 2025 where an e-bike or e-scooter battery was the cause. Purchasing an e-bike or e-scooter from an online marketplace could pose a significantly higher fire risk due to the lack of regulation. By contrast, high street retailers are more likely to stock products with batteries and chargers that meet the UKCA or CE safety standards.
As Black Friday approaches, the Brigade is urging shoppers to think twice about what they purchase via online marketplaces and to be careful when grabbing a ‘good deal’. What might appear as a saving in the short term, could cost a lot more in the long term – it could even cost someone their life.
While an online deal may seem tempting, the impact of an e-bike fire is devastating, as a mother-of-three from Bromley experienced. Jo Frost lost her home of 23 years in an e-bike fire where a conversion kit was bought from a second-hand marketplace online. Her 14-year-old son, his friend, and the family dog narrowly escaped.
Jo Frost said: “The e-bike was charging in the front room when it burst into flames, my son and his friend were trapped on the first floor due to the fire spreading up the stairs. Thankfully, he had the quick thinking to shut his bedroom door, preventing the fire from spreading to his room.
“In minutes my family lost our home and everything inside due to a fire caused by an e-bike. Everything I lost is material, luckily my son Ollie, his friend and the dog are all safe, but we have had to start from scratch.
“I wasn’t aware of the dangers of buying a conversion kit online – or that it wasn’t regulated. I hope that hearing my story will warn others of the potential dangers.”
Conversion kits allow a normal pedal bike to be altered to an e-bike, however, if they are not installed correctly they pose a significant fire risk. The kits rarely come with a battery or charger, resulting in shoppers purchasing these items separately and leaving them at risk of purchasing an incompatible product. Incompatible or sub-standard chargers can lead to batteries overcharging and this increases the risk of batteries catching fire.
London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: “We have already tackled a record number of fires this year which have been caused by either an e-bike or e-scooter, we urge Londoners to be careful when purchasing one of these items.
“As we have seen, these fires have devastating consequences – they are fast, explosive, toxic and can be fatal. Buying from an online marketplace could significantly increase the risk of fire due to the lack of regulation. Without knowing it, you could be purchasing a faulty, damaged or incompatible product and putting yourself, and everyone around you at risk.
“Everyone wants a great Black Friday deal, but please buy e-bikes and e-scooters from reputable retailers where products are more likely to meet UK safety standards.”
Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for the Fire Service, said: “E-bikes are top of the wish list for many people shopping in the sales, in the run up to Christmas, but buying online can come with risks. In London we’ve seen a record number of e-bike and e-scooter fires this year – with most taking place in people’s homes. I urge Londoners to think twice about buying an e-bike or conversion kit from online marketplaces and encourage them to shop with reputable retailers – if it seems too good to be true it probably is and could be extremely dangerous.
“The Mayor and I will continue to support the work of the London Fire Brigade and partners to improve e-bike safety, strengthen regulation and raise awareness of the dangers, as we build a safer London for everyone."
The Brigade’s #ChargeSafe campaign raises awareness of the fire risks associated with e-bikes, e-scooters and is seeking changes to regulation, to prevent poor quality batteries, chargers and conversion kits being sold via online marketplaces.