We’ve seen first-hand how quickly battery fires can happen and the impact they can have on people’s homes, belongings and lives.
Below are images from a house fire in a United Welsh property from January 2026. This fire was caused by an e-scooter battery overheating. Thankfully, everyone got out safely, but the damage was significant.
Buying an e-bike or e-scooter
Many battery fires involve cheap, poor-quality or counterfeit batteries and chargers. That’s why it’s important to buy from a retailer you know and trust. A trusted retailer is a well-known shop or website that sells products which meet UK safety standards and provides proper customer support if something goes wrong. Think of shops you’d see on the highstreet, or the brand’s own website.
Be careful when buying online
Take extra care when shopping through online marketplaces, social media or auction sites. Some batteries and chargers sold online may not meet UK safety standards and can increase the risk of fire.
Before you buy, ask yourself:
- Does the website have good reviews? Google the name of the website and ‘Trustpilot’
- Is the price unusually cheap compared to similar products?
- Can I return it if there’s a problem?
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Charging your battery safely
Most battery fires happen while charging.
Do
- Use the charger that came with the battery
- Charge while you’re at home and awake
- Unplug the charger when it’s finished charging
- Keep the battery on a hard, flat surface
- Make sure you have working smoke alarms nearby
Don’t
- Charge overnight while you’re sleeping
- Charge when you’re out of the house
- Cover the battery or charger
- Use damaged chargers or cables
- Ignore signs that something isn’t right
These simple steps can help reduce the risk of a fire starting.
Storing your e-bike or e-scooter
Where you keep and charge your e-bike or e-scooter can make a big difference if something goes wrong. Lithium-ion battery fires can spread very quickly, so it’s important to think about where a fire could start and how you would get out safely.
Do:
- Keep batteries and chargers on a hard, flat surface while charging.
- Charge batteries while you’re awake and at home so you can spot any problems early.
- Store your e-bike or e-scooter in a cool, dry place.
- Keep it away from furniture, curtains and other items that could catch fire.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working.
Don’t:
- Charge batteries overnight while you’re asleep, or out of the house.
- Cover batteries or chargers while they’re charging.
- Leave charging cables, batteries, e-bikes or e-scooters blocking a doorway or exit.
If you live in a block of flats
Communal hallways, corridors and stairwells are escape routes. Never store or charge e-bikes, e-scooters or batteries in these areas, as they could block people’s way out during a fire.
Help keep your building safe
Corridors, stairwells and entrances should always be kept clear. If you see an e-bike, e-scooter or anything else blocking an escape route, please let your Neighbourhood Officer know.
