​Did you know that e-bikes – and specifically their batteries – are increasingly becoming a fire risk?

Recent data has shown that there has been a 60% rise in e-bike fires in London this year alone. 

The lithium-ion batteries used to construct electric bikes are designed to contain a huge amount of energy in a comparatively small space. The inflammable electrolyte and electrodes contained in each battery cell can ignite and cause the battery to explode if they become exposed to too much heat.

It’s important to keep any e-bike away from particularly hot conditions and ensure that its components are correctly fitted and maintained. But ultimately, the onus is on the bike’s owner to ensure the battery is not a fire risk.

However, owners and landlords of flats and HMOs can guide their tenants towards taking the correct precautions, so they do not inadvertently place themselves and other occupants in danger.  

If you are responsible for looking after a building (or buildings) of this nature and are worried about the rise in e-bike battery fires, our advice would be to raise awareness of this issue amongst your tenants right away.

• Encourage them to store their equipment correctly and away from any shared exits, so as not to block any emergency routes in the worst-case scenario
• Remind them that they should always charge their e-bikes away from any combustible materials
• Remind them that they should only ever replace bike parts with components that have been provided and approved by the original manufacturer.

And remember, if you want to make doubly sure that your premises are not being exposed to unnecessary risk (from e-bike fires or something else entirely), Environtec can carry out comprehensive fire risk assessments on your behalf.