Millions warned of buying e-scooters and e-bikes for Christmas amid ‘serious’ fire hazards
A local authority has issued an urgent warning to people looking to buy an e-bike or e-scooter this Christmas highlighting numerous safety warnings.
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in Northern Ireland warned its residents about the health risks associated with the popular electric vehicles.
In a statement to residents, the council flagged that last Christmas saw more people purchase the popular transport models. It also saw an increase in the number of fires related to lithium batteries which has quadrupled in the last three years.
Across the UK, reports found that 190 people have been injured in fires related to lithium-ion batteries since 2020 with 10 people losing their lives.
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According to the London Fire Brigade, e-bikes and e-scooters are some of the biggest causes of fires due to their batteries with research finding that one fire is seen every two days.
In a bid to prevent further fires happening around Christmas, the council has rolled out key steps riders should take before buying an e-bike or scooter.
The first includes conducting proper research from trusted sellers and looking at reviews beforehand. The second is to check whether the product meets UK safety laws and if the seller provides information about how they comply.
Bikes and scooters which meet the requirements should have a UKCA or CE mark which is mandatory under all UK product safety regulations.
Riders should also follow the manufacturer’s instructions for storage, charging, and maintenance. One of the most common ways e-bikes and scooters catch fire is when they are charging and the battery overheats, the brigade has warned.
To prevent this, riders must charge batteries in a safe location that does not block fire escape routes or exits. The council stated: “Do not cover the charger or battery. Charge when you are awake and present, not when you are asleep or away from home. Unplug once the battery is fully charged.
“Make sure your charger is suitable for your battery, as not all e-bike or e-scooter batteries and chargers are safe when used together. Connecting the wrong charger to a battery can pose serious fire risks.”
In October, the Office for Product Safety and Standards launched a new safety campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of buying faulty and unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters, urging riders to only buy from official regulated sites.
Product Safety Minister Justin Madders said: “E-bikes can be a great way to travel around the city, but we’ve all seen the tragic stories of unsafe e-bikes and e-scooters causing dangerous fires and taking lives.
“That’s why we’re urging everyone to check what you’re buying, check where you’re buying it from and ensure it’s safe to use.”
When thinking about converting a bike to an e-bike, riders should only use a “competent professional” to convert a pedal bike to an e-bike.
Under current laws, e-scooters are banned unless through Government rental trial areas, while e-bikes are legal to use across the country but must not exceed an output of 250 watts or travel faster than 15.5mph.
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London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Craig Carter, explained: “E-bikes and e-scooters are a green and sustainable way to travel around our city.
“However, e-bikes and e-scooters can pose a significant fire risk and particularly the batteries used to power them have become one of London’s fastest-growing fire risks. They have destroyed homes and families have sadly lost loved ones in these fires.”