Dangerous electric bike batteries linked to serious fires are still being sold online despite warnings from the Government.
Models of UPP-branded batteries, which pose a serious fire risk, have been found for sale by private sellers across the UK via Facebook Marketplace.
The batteries, identified as models U004 and U004-1, could put households at serious risk of devastating fires, prompting urgent calls for stronger regulations of online marketplaces.
Consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First discovered multiple listings of these dangerous batteries being passed on to unsuspecting buyers in cities throughout the country.
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Labour is being urged to take direct action against online marketplaces selling faulty batteries
ELECTRICAL SAFETY FIRST/LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
In one case, a seller described a battery as being "a little bit burnt" from being "left near a radiator".
The charity confirmed the dangerous models either by spotting the model numbers in sellers' photos or through direct confirmation from sellers.
An additional 13 listings showing identical triangular UPP-branded batteries were also found. In a follow-up investigation a month later, six more listings of the dangerous models were discovered online.
The triangular-shaped batteries present a risk of entering "thermal runaway" - a devastating process where temperatures can reach 600 degrees centigrade.
London Fire Brigade is urging riders to ensure their electric bikes are safe
LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
During thermal runaway, the batteries release toxic gases and create ferocious fires that are almost impossible to extinguish. These incidents can spread rapidly and potentially lead to serious injury or death.
The Government warning states these models should not be used as they are dangerous and can cause serious fires or explosions.
A Government withdrawal notice was published online in January 2024, initially issued to Amazon, eBay and Alibaba. While Facebook wasn't directly issued with the original withdrawal notice, the warning was published online and reissued by the Government last month on the GOV.UK website.
Facebook's parent company, Meta, confirmed it had removed the listings found by Electrical Safety First as a precaution, which came after the charity raised its findings with the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said: "We urgently need sellers to check if they are unknowingly passing on a dangerous e-bike battery. A single unit of this affected battery being sold online could put a household at serious risk.
"It's essential all online marketplaces and businesses proactively engage with the published Government warning. The current rules governing online marketplaces are not fit for purpose, and new laws are urgently needed to protect shoppers from dangerous goods being sold on these platforms."
The warning comes as the Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill progresses through the House of Commons.
Electrical Safety First is calling for new laws to prevent substandard batteries coming onto the market and being available online to address the growing problem of e-bike fires.
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Experts are calling for more to be done to mitigate the risk of dangerous batteries
ELECTRICAL SAFETY FIRST
They are particularly concerned about online marketplaces, which they argue need to be legally responsible for preventing dangerous goods from being sold on their platforms.
The charity's campaign focuses on closing regulatory gaps that currently allow potentially dangerous products to reach consumers.
Capanna added: "We're encouraged that the Bill will address e-bike fires, but it's essential it tackles the issue head-on."
