We know people are worried about e-bike and e-scooter fires and the risk they pose to life and property. That’s why we’ve released guidance for those responsible for fire safety in buildings, such as landlords and business owners, on how best to store and charge these vehicles.
Incidents on the rise
The use of e-bikes and e-scooters is increasing, and so too are the number of fires they are involved in. On average there was a fire every two days in 2023.
The majority of fires related to e-bikes and e-scooter have happened in homes. These fires are often caused when charging batteries and put lives at risk.
What you need to know as a responsible person
If you’re the responsible person for an office or residential building covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - you might be considering how to handle the storage and charging of lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters.
Our Guidance Notes below are based on our current knowledge of the risks associated with lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters. The rapid changes in technology mean that we’ll be periodically reviewing the notes to incorporate emerging research.
These documents are intended to help the responsible person and landlords, or others responsible for fire safety in buildings. They cover storage and charging, and also specifically look at the risks associated with fires in communal areas.