East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESF&R) says it is seeing a rise in incidents caused by faulty e-bike and e-scooter batteries. Worries about their safety have also led Southern Railway to ban electric bikes from their trains.
The fire brigade says it’s imperative people are aware of the dangers of overcharging the e-bikes lithium-ion batteries which can overheat and cause a fire. ESF&R is also warning about the use of cheap cables and uncertified chargers which it says have been responsible for a number of fires in the county over the last two months.
Meanwhile, both Southern and Southeastern rail companies have banned e-bikes and e-scooters from their trains. The ban, which also includes electric skateboards, unicycles and hoverboards, has been brought in because of advice there’s limited regulation about lithium-ion batteries which they believe have the potential to cause harm if they malfunction. The rail companies say mobility scooters are not affected by the ban.
You can read ESF&R advice on electric bikes and scooters here:
Guide to Fire Safety for E-bikes and E-scooters | East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (esfrs.org)
