How to Charge E-Scooters, E-Bikes and Lithium-Ion Batteries Safely

E-scooters, e-bikes, power banks, laptops and cordless power tools are charged every day in homes, offices and workshops, and almost all of them run on lithium-ion batteries. Most charging goes without incident. But when a lithium-ion battery fails, a fire can develop within seconds, spread quickly and release toxic smoke.

Many battery fires start during charging or in batteries that have been damaged, and a few simple habits reduce the risk. This guide brings together advice from fire services and product safety regulators in the US and the UK.

The figures come from different sources and cover different products and periods, so they are not directly comparable. Together, they show that battery fires are increasing, and that safer products and better charging habits make a difference.

Charge outdoors or in a garage or shed if you can. If you charge indoors, choose a room where a fire would not block your way out. The UK government’s Fire Kills campaign advises against charging in bedrooms, in hallways or near the front door.

• Charge on a hard, flat surface that won’t burn, away from sofas, beds, curtains, paper and other combustible materials.
• Charge in a room with a working smoke alarm.
• Don’t charge in direct sunlight or in very hot places, and don’t cover the charger or battery while it charges.
• Store e-bikes and e-scooters away from exits and escape routes, also when they are not charging.

No. Both the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and UK fire services advise against charging while you are asleep or away from home. According to the CPSC, many home fires and deaths linked to these products happen at night while batteries are charging, when a fire can grow before anyone notices.

Plan charging for times when you are at home and awake, and unplug the charger once the battery is full.

Use the charger that came with the device, or a replacement from the manufacturer. A charger that fits the connector is not necessarily compatible with the battery. The CPSC has warned against so-called universal chargers for e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards after receiving 156 reports of fires and overheating incidents linked to them.

The same applies to batteries. Only use replacement batteries approved by the manufacturer, and avoid battery packs that have been modified or rebuilt. London Fire Brigade warns that conversion kits, which turn an ordinary bicycle into an e-bike, increase the risk of battery fires.

Small batteries can catch fire too. Don’t charge a phone, tablet, laptop or power bank in bed or on a sofa, where soft furnishings trap heat. Place the device on a hard surface while it charges.

Cordless power tools, garden equipment and rechargeable toys use the same battery technology. Charge them on a hard surface, away from anything that can burn, and keep chargers and batteries out of direct sunlight.

Stop using or charging a battery immediately if you notice:

• unusual heat from the battery or the charger
• swelling or a change in shape
• a strange smell, hissing or popping sounds
• smoke, leaking or discoloration
• a battery that no longer holds its charge

A battery that has been dropped or crushed can be damaged even if it looks fine on the outside, and a damaged battery can catch fire even when it is not charging. Never throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or household recycling. Take them to a battery recycling point or a hazardous waste collection site.

Read more about why lithium-ion battery fires are so hard to stop.

In the US, the most important thing to check when you buy an e-bike, e-scooter or replacement battery is safety certification from an accredited testing laboratory. The relevant UL standards are UL 2849 for e-bikes, UL 2272 for e-scooters and other personal e-mobility devices, and UL 2271 for their batteries.

Look for a certification mark on the product itself, not only in the marketing. UL Solutions points out that a product “tested to” a standard is not the same as a certified product, and that a certified battery or charger does not mean the whole device is certified.

Some cities have made certification a legal requirement. Since September 2023, e-bikes, e-scooters and their lithium-ion batteries sold, leased or rented in New York City must be certified to UL standards. You can check for recalls and report unsafe products at SaferProducts.gov, run by the CPSC.

London Fire Brigade attended 206 e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2025, the highest number on record, and most of them involved e-bikes. The brigade points to batteries, chargers and conversion kits bought online that don’t meet UK safety standards as common factors.

• Buy from reputable sellers, and be cautious with cheap batteries, chargers and conversion kits sold online.
• Don’t charge in bedrooms, hallways or escape routes, and don’t charge while you’re asleep or out.
• Don’t overload sockets or use damaged extension leads.

Since December 2024, statutory guidelines from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) set out what manufacturers and distributors of e-bike batteries must take into account to meet UK product safety law. London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe campaign has more advice on charging and storage.

When many people charge in the same building, the consequences of a fire are greater. Landlords, housing providers and employers can reduce the risk:

• Set up designated charging and storage areas away from escape routes, stairwells and corridors.
• Include charging and storage in house rules and workplace procedures.
• Make sure charging areas have smoke detection.
• Keep equipment on hand that can help limit the spread of a small, early-stage battery fire, such as a fire blanket designed for lithium-ion batteries.

London Fire Brigade has urged housing associations, landlords, universities and colleges to provide safe storage and charging facilities where possible.