The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued an Important Safety Message on 6 December 2023 setting out the steps people should take when owning or thinking of buying an e-bike or e-scooter1. The OPSS said the message follows a number of fire incidents, some of them fatal, involving lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters, including in conversion kits1.
The steps the OPSS set out cover charging and use of the products and the battery and charger:
| Step set out by the OPSS |
|---|
| Always following the manufacturer's instructions for charging and using the products |
| Checking and only using the manufacturer's recommended battery and charger |
| Never attempting to tamper with or alter the battery or charger |
| Unplugging the battery when charging has finished |
The OPSS published the message in full on GOV.UK, alongside further safety information from Fire England1. The number of incidents, the dates on which they occurred and any locations have not been reported in the announcement1.
"This follows a number of fire incidents, some of them fatal, involving lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters, including in conversion kits."
Why it matters for households
The message is addressed to anyone who owns or is considering buying an e-bike or e-scooter, and it covers conversion kits as well as complete machines1. The OPSS states that the fire incidents behind the message involved lithium-ion batteries, and that some of those incidents were fatal1. The steps it sets out concern charging and use, the choice of battery and charger, tampering with either, and unplugging the battery once charging has finished1. Households can read the full message and Fire England's further safety information on GOV.UK1. Our guide to charging and storing e-bikes and e-scooters safely covers the same subject, and the home emergencies hub sets it alongside other household risks.
What happens next
No further dates or follow-up actions have been reported1. The OPSS directs readers to the full Important Safety Message and to further safety information from Fire England, both published on GOV.UK1.
E-bike Charging Safety
