E-Scooters and E-Bikes Are Everywhere. Are We Prepared for the Fire Risk?

E-scooters, e-bikes, laptops and power banks have become a natural part of everyday life. They are found in homes, schools, hotels, shopping centers, office buildings, parking facilities and public transport hubs. What many of these products have in common is that they are powered by lithium-ion batteries, an efficient technology capable of storing a large amount of energy in a compact space.

The vast majority of lithium-ion batteries operate without problems. However, if a battery is damaged, incorrectly handled or charged using unsuitable equipment, it can cause an extremely challenging fire. Incidents in Norway and internationally demonstrate how quickly lithium-ion battery fires can develop, particularly when batteries are stored or charged indoors.

A lithium-ion battery can catch fire due to physical damage, manufacturing defects, moisture, an incorrect charger, overheating, modification or an internal short circuit. Impact damage is particularly relevant to e-scooters, which are used on uneven surfaces and can easily fall over or be subjected to hard impacts.

If the temperature in one or more battery cells rises uncontrollably, a process known as thermal runaway may occur. Thermal runaway releases heat and flammable gases, and the reaction can spread from one battery cell to another. A lithium-ion battery fire may develop rapidly and produce large quantities of dense, highly toxic smoke and gases.

Lithium-ion batteries can show warning signs before a fire occurs. These may include unusual heat, swelling or changes in shape, unusual smells, hissing or crackling sounds, smoke, or other signs that the battery is damaged or failing.

London Fire Brigade warns that damaged or faulty lithium-ion batteries, as well as batteries that are charged incorrectly, can pose a serious fire risk. When these batteries fail, they can ignite quickly, produce intense fires and release toxic smoke.

If an e-scooter or e-bike battery shows signs of failure, it is important to take the warning signs seriously. If a fire occurs, move to safety, warn others and call the emergency services.

Read London Fire Brigade’s fire safety advice for e-bikes and e-scooters

When a lithium-ion battery fails, a fire can develop rapidly, producing intense heat, flames and toxic smoke. The location of an e-scooter or e-bike can therefore have a major impact on the consequences of an incident.

Batteries should not be charged or stored in hallways, stairwells or other areas that form part of an escape route. Keeping escape routes clear is particularly important because a rapidly developing battery fire can make evacuation more difficult.

Lithium-ion battery fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes are not limited to Norway.

London Fire Brigade recorded 206 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters in 2025, compared with 171 in 2024. Of the incidents recorded in 2025, 35 involved e-scooters and 171 involved e-bikes. Two people lost their lives in these fires in London during 2025.

Fire investigations show that battery failure, conversion kits, unsuitable chargers and products purchased from unreliable online sellers are recurring factors. Damaged, poorly manufactured or modified batteries present a particular risk.

View the statistics from London Fire Brigade.

In February 2025, Fire and Rescue New South Wales responded to four separate e-scooter and e-bike fires in Sydney within just twelve hours. In one of the incidents, an e-scooter battery exploded inside a home. Two people were injured by flying debris, burns and smoke inhalation. Authorities believed that the scooter had been modified and charged using an incorrect charger.

Read the incident report from Fire and Rescue NSW.

These incidents show that the risk is not limited to the battery itself. Where a battery-powered device is stored or charged, its surrounding environment, and how quickly people identify and react to warning signs can all be decisive factors in the outcome.

Bridgehill developed the Urban Emergency Fire Blanket for the early isolation of small, localized lithium-ion battery fire incidents involving products such as e-scooters, e-bikes, power banks, laptops and other small electronic devices.

The fire blanket measures approximately 2 × 2 meters and is stored in a highly visible, weather-resistant wall-mounted cabinet with a breakable access panel. This makes the equipment quickly accessible in public and commercial environments.

Relevant locations include:

• Schools, universities and student accommodation
• Hotels and other accommodation facilities
• Shopping centers, shops and office buildings
• Railway stations, airports and public transport hubs
• Parking facilities, bicycle parking areas and charging zones
• Warehouses, workshops and service centers
• Municipal buildings and other public spaces

Covering a small fire source at an early stage can help contain flames and heat and reduce the risk of the fire spreading to furnishings or other combustible materials while waiting for the fire service to arrive.

The material is designed to withstand high temperatures and has been tested in accordance with NFPA 701-2019, with electrical resistivity compliant with ASTM D257.

See product information for the Urban Emergency Fire Blanket.

The Urban Emergency Fire Blanket is intended for the early isolation of a small, localized incident, reduce the risk of fire spreading to nearby materials, and buy valuable time while people evacuate and the fire service is on its way. It is not designed to extinguish a large or fully developed battery fire, and a fire blanket cannot remove or neutralize gases that have already been released by the battery. 

The fire blanket should therefore only be used when the incident is at an early stage, the fire source can be approached without exposing anyone to danger, and a clear escape route remains available.

Its use must never delay evacuation or emergency calls. If there is smoke, heavy gas release, explosions or a developed fire, everyone must leave the area immediately, warn others and contact the fire service.

Once the blanket has been placed over the device, it should remain in position. It must not be lifted to inspect the fire, as the battery may reignite. Further handling should be left to trained fire and rescue personnel.

Safe charging, appropriate storage, reliable product quality and unobstructed escape routes are among the most important measures for reducing the risk of serious e-scooter, e-bike and other lithium-ion battery fires.

Organizations should assess where battery-powered products are stored and charged and ensure that clear procedures, working smoke detectors, appropriate training and accessible emergency equipment are in place.

Prevention and emergency preparedness need to work together.

E-scooters, e-bikes and other battery-powered products are here to stay. Fire preparedness must therefore continue to evolve alongside technology. Early detection, rapid evacuation and the ability to isolate a small incident before it spreads can help protect people, buildings and critical escape routes.