A "worrying" surge in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries exploding into flames has resulted in fire brigades tackling such fires once every five hours across the UK.
The increased incidence of fires – frequently linked to e-bikes – has led to mounting concern that current regulations are inadequate as the use of electric cars, e-bikes and battery scooters grows.
Figures obtained via an FOI request by insurance company QBE, reveal the rapid uptick in lithium-ion fires, which rose from 713 in 2022, to 1,760 in 2025, representing a rise of 147 per cent and meaning fire crews were tackling these fires almost five times a day last year.
E-bikes were the number one source of lithium-ion battery fires, the data showed. In 2025, 520 fires were linked to e-bikes, triple the number just three years earlier.
Of these, 44 per cent were dealt with by the London Fire Brigade, with 230 e-bike fires occurring in the capital in 2025.
QBE said the FOI showed that where fire brigades recorded this information, converted or retrofitted e-bikes were involved more frequently than officially manufactured models.
The data showed fires involving electric vehicles (EVs) increased by 133 per cent, from 120 incidents in 2022 to 279 in 2025, but this increase is low compared to the overall number of electric vehicles on the road, which tripled over the same period, from 664,148 EVs on UK roads in 2022 to 1,971,764 EVs in 2025.
Fire brigade data revealed that almost half (46 per cent) of lithium-ion battery fires took place in people’s homes, while 31 per cent occurred outdoors and 23 per cent were recorded in commercial premises.
In addition to bikes, cars and scooters, lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in an array of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops and tablets, with the average UK household containing 15-25 lithium-ion batteries.
"Notably, 45 per cent of fire incidents involving lithium-ion batteries occurred on devices such as mobile phones, tablets, power packs and other battery powered equipment," QBE said.
Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries tend to occur due to a process called "thermal runaway" in which they begin to irreversibly overheat. This can happen due to overcharging the battery, exposing it to high temperatures, or following impact damage to the battery.
London Fire Brigade's deputy commissioner for prevention, protection and operational policy, Spencer Sutcliff, told The Independent: “We are extremely concerned around the issue of e-bike and e-scooter fires and the devastating impact these fires can have on lives and livelihoods.
“Last year, we attended a record number of fires and our firefighters continue to be called out to a worrying amount of incidents involving e-bike and e-scooter batteries this year. Public awareness is vital and a collective effort is required by all relevant organisations to ensure people understand the risks we know exist and what they can do to help prevent fires or serious harm from them."
He said regulation can help improve product safety and also reduce faulty or counterfeit products being sold – in particular, e-bike batteries, chargers and conversion kits.
“I am pleased to see the Department for Business & Trade introduce the necessary consultation this spring for the Product Regulation and Metrology Act," he added.
Adrian Simmonds, Risk Manager at QBE Insurance said: “It’s vital that people and businesses take action to better manage this growing risk. Thermal runaway caused by these types of batteries burns differently, takes much longer to tackle and can require up to 10 times more water to contain.
“Awareness of safe charging, storage and disposal is essential to keeping people and property safe."
He added: "People should use only certified e-bikes and batteries, charge them away from escape routes and avoid charging items overnight. The statistics suggest retrofitted bikes are more prone to these incidents, so we would encourage people to stick to reputable companies when purchasing and avoid unregulated devices.”
QBE's FOI request saw data returned from 42 of the UK's 49 fire services.
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