Warning after e-bike fire

Yet another warning's been issued by London's fire service about the dangers of e-bikes

40 firefighters were called out to a blaze on Sun 15th June caused by the failure of a lithium-ion battery for a converted vehicle in Southwark

Part of a maisonette was destroyed and a woman was taken to hospital

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said:

"E-bikes and e-scooters are a green and sustainable way to travel around our city. However, the stark reality is that some of these vehicles are proving to be incredibly dangerous and are at greater risk of malfunctioning, particularly if they’ve been modified, fitted or converted with second-hand products or if the batteries are used with the incorrect chargers.

"In this case, the bike had been converted from a normal pedal cycle by having lithium-ion batteries fitted. It is vital that any conversion is carried out by a professional or competent person.

"We encourage anyone who owns an e-bike or e-scooter, or is thinking about purchasing one, to take a look at all of our #ChargeSafe advice on our website to help keep themselves and those around them safer from these types of fires."

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