- Lithium-ion battery fires are on the rise
- E-bikes, e-scooters, and vaporizers blamed
- There are simple steps you can take to stay safe
New UK firefighting data collected throughout 2025 shows that lithium-ion batteries are responsible for a growing number of fires, with emergency services dealing with one such incident every five hours over the past year, on average.
As The Guardian reports, UK firefighters were called to 1,760 fires involving lithium-ion batteries in 2025, according to Freedom of Information data requested by insurance company QBE. That equates to 4.8 incidents per day and amounts to a 147% increase over the previous three years.
Almost every device that can be recharged uses a lithium-ion battery, from smartphones to toothbrushes. Vaporizers, e-bikes, and e-scooters are specifically mentioned in this latest report and appear to be driving the increase in fires.
When manufactured and used correctly, lithium-ion batteries should be safe to use. However, when they are not set correctly or become damaged, something called thermal runaway can occur, causing a rapid rise in temperature, the escape of gas and flames, and ultimately the battery exploding.
Products that have not been properly certified can be potentially risky, as can unauthorized charging devices. Lithium-ion batteries that are not properly disposed of can also cause fires, either when initially collected or when processed in recycling plants.
“Thermal runaway caused by these types of batteries burns differently, takes much longer to address and can require up to 10 times more water to contain,” QBE’s Adrian Simmonds told The Guardian. “Awareness of safe loading, storage and disposal is essential to keeping people and property safe.”
3 tips to keep your electric bike safe
🚨Firefighters took five people to safety after a fire involving an electric bike broke out at an upstairs shop on Wealdstone High Street on Friday morning, May 8. #Harrow #News 📹 Sahil Anand pic.twitter.com/lALDWdZv3AMay 11, 2026
E-bikes aren’t the only reason lithium-ion battery fires have become more common, but they are a big part of the problem. There were 520 fire service calls for e-bike fires in the UK in 2025, The Guardian reports, compared to 149 in 2022.
The first tip to ensure that you and your e-bike are not contributing to these statistics is to buy from authorized suppliers and stick to trusted manufacturers. This applies to complete electric bikes, as well as replacement batteries, battery chargers and conversion kits.
Secondly, charge your e-bike battery somewhere you can see it and keep an eye on it, whenever possible; If something starts to go wrong, you’ll have a better chance of catching it if you’re not asleep or out of the house all day. Ideally, load them in a shed or garage separate from your home.
Third, use the battery charger supplied with your e-bike or (if you need a replacement) one that has been approved by the manufacturer. And, as always, keep batteries away from combustible materials and make sure your home is well equipped with the necessary fire detection technology.
“We believe regulation can help improve product safety and reduce the chance of consumers being exposed to faulty or counterfeit products, such as e-bike batteries, chargers and conversion kits, on online marketplaces,” Spencer Sutcliff, deputy commissioner for fire prevention at 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’s National Fire Chiefs Council told The Guardian. “Regulation and guidance have not kept pace with technology.”
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