Lithium-ion battery fires surged by 93% from 2022 to 2024, according to data released by QBE Insurance.
It found that fires involving electric cars rose from 131 to 232, or 77%, in the two-year period, while e-bike fires rose from 181 to 362 and those involving e-scooters rose from 118 in 2022.
This comes after a Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to UK fire services in March.
QBE is now calling for improvements to lithium-ion battery safety as the fires burn hotter, faster and behave more unpredictably than ordinary combustion fires, increasing the risk of injury to people and damage to property.
Fire hazards
Adrian Simmonds, practice leader for property risk solutions at QBE Insurance, said: “Lithium-ion battery fires continue increasing at a worrying pace. These fires burn differently, they take longer to tackle, typically need ten times more water to put out and are often more harmful to the surrounding environment. People need to understand the risks and how to deal with them.”
“While QBE supports the adoption of e-transport, we also call for stricter regulation. For instance, the UK should stop the sale of rogue e-bikes and other unregulated devices. This could be done in the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which is going through Parliament.
“In the meantime, consumers should purchase e-bikes and e-scooters from reputable companies, so retailers that show they take quality and compliance seriously with a genuine CE mark. Raising awareness around safe charging, use and disposal of lithium-ion batteries is critical to keeping people and property safe.”
