Record rise in e-bike fires: Safety expert issues urgent alert for businesses

Astutis, a leading provider of accredited health, safety, and environmental training, has issued an urgent warning to businesses around ebikes.

Llithium‑ion battery fires from e‑bikes and e‑scooters are escalating rapidly, placing communal and workplace environments at serious risk.

New research has revealed that there were 171 fires that broke out in 2025, rising to 206 when including e-scooters. In 2024, there were 142 fires, showing a huge 20% increase.

Brenig Moore, Technical Director from Astutis, leading provider of health and safety and environmental training, calls on organisations to assess storage and charging practices, to prevent fires in the workplace.

“e-Bikes and e-Scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries present a serious risk for businesses with communal areas and large numbers of employees on-site if they are not managed proactively. 

"It is imperative that all organisations assess the use and storage of them to ensure no undue risk is present. Be sure to check any nearby communal areas where they might be stored, such as bike sheds, hallways, corridors and foyers.”

Brenig goes on to provide absolute key recommendations that businesses and organisations need to implement if they haven’t already, to protect not only the business-grounds, but essential safety for employees:

“While employees should want everyone to get home safely on their bikes and scooters, protecting the workplace and employees is absolutely essential. Employers should limit, or completely eliminate charging of unapproved e-bikes within the workplace.

"Any chargers that are kept within the workplace should undergo regular PAT testing to ensure safe usage.

"As a third step, businesses should really identify storage hotspots and mitigate risk through the fire risk assessments which should be kept up to date on a regular basis.”

For those who might be using them, the Office for Product Safety and Standards recommends the following:

• Research – only buy an e-bike, e-scooter, charger or battery from a known seller and check any product reviews.
• Read – always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and using e-bikes or e-scooters.
• Check – not all e-bike or e-scooter batteries and chargers are compatible or safe when used together. Check and only use the manufacturer’s recommended battery or charger.
• Charge – always charge in a safe place without blocking exits, and always unplug your charger when you have finished charging
• Never – attempt to modify or tamper with your battery.

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