Government withdrawal notice issued on dangerous UPP e-bike batteries

The Government issued a withdrawal notice in January 2024 stating that the UPP (unit pack power) e-bike battery posed a serious risk of fire, according to Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First¹. The notice was issued to Amazon, eBay and Alibaba, and was later re-issued on the .GOV website to engage with the wider business community². The models named as affected are U004 and U004-1¹.

Electrical Safety First says it found seven private listings of the battery with the affected model numbers on Facebook Marketplace, in Greater Manchester, Greater London, Hull, Derbyshire, Southampton, Reading and elsewhere². It confirmed the models either from photographs used in the advertisements or through direct confirmation from the seller². One battery was described by its seller as "a little bit burnt" from being "left near a radiator"². The charity raised serious concerns about 13 further listings where a triangular UPP branded battery was visible but the model number could not be confirmed, and in a follow up investigation almost one month later it found a further six listings with the affected model number². Meta confirmed it had removed the listings as a precaution after the charity raised its findings with the Office for Product Safety and Standards².

The Government warning states that the models should not be used as they are dangerous and can cause a serious fire or explosion that spreads rapidly, and which can lead to serious injury or death². Electrical Safety First describes the associated risk of "thermal runaway", in which a battery reaches up to 600 degrees centigrade, releases toxic gases and creates a fire that is almost impossible to extinguish². Fires involving a UPP battery have been reported: a fire in Coventry in September 2023 saw a high-rise property devastated after a fire linked to the affected battery spread quickly, leading to enforcement action that helped see the battery removed from sale via various online distributors, and a home in Surrey was damaged after a converted bike caught fire while on charge, linked to an unknown model of UPP battery².

The battery is distinctively triangular in shape and often carries stickers reading "UPPBATTERY" and/or "U004 BATTERY", with an LED display or indicator, a power switch and a charge socket². A black sticker on the outer case displays the model number³.

Why it matters for households

The affected batteries are commonly charged at home, and the fire service says most e-bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters are powered by lithium-ion batteries charged in the home¹. Electrical Safety First advises anyone whose battery carries the model number U004 or U004-1 to stop using it immediately, to disconnect it and keep it safely away from their living area, and not to dispose of it in general waste or normal recycling, because this could put other people at risk; it directs owners to a suitable local recycling point or to advice on safe disposal, and to contact the seller for redress³. The Government advises those with the battery to dispose of it safely by first checking with their local collection sites to ensure they cater for battery disposal².

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service advises households to fit smoke or heat detection where they charge or store an e-bike, e-scooter or mobility scooter, never to charge or store one in hallways, near exits, on escape routes, where people sleep or in communal areas, and never to leave one charging unattended or while asleep¹. It advises charging in a cool, well ventilated area away from flammable materials, using the manufacturer approved charger, never covering the battery while charging, unplugging once charging is complete, and checking regularly for signs of damage such as swelling, leaks or strange smells¹. In the event of a lithium-ion battery fire, it says: "Get out, stay out, call 999"¹.

What happens next

Electrical Safety First says the Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is progressing through the House of Commons, and it is calling for new laws requiring e-bike batteries to be independently certified as safe before sale in the UK, and for online marketplaces to be legally responsible for preventing dangerous goods being available on their sites². It says that at present manufacturers can self-declare their batteries are safe². No further dates for the Bill's passage, or for any further withdrawal action, have been reported.

Households can find wider planning guidance in the home emergencies hub.