Electric scooters are 'risking the lives of the public' with urgent fire warning
E-scooter riders are being warned of potential dangers
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Experts have raised a number of concerns about batteries in electric bikes and electric scooters, which have led to instances of dangerous situations and fires.
In the first three months of 2023, fires from lithium-ion batteries resulted in four deaths and left a number of other people hospitalised or seriously injured.
A recent study from Electrical Safety First found that 43 per cent of owners use after-market chargers, which could potentially be more dangerous.
People are being urged to always use the original charger that came with their product, with the same principle applying to electric car owners.
E-scooter trials are taking place around the country
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When using a charger that is not sold by the manufacturer, there could be a heightened risk of e-scooters and e-bikes not charging properly, giving owners electric shocks and potentially even setting off fires.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, warned that when something is wrong with the battery, there can be a huge release of energy, adding that a room can be “decimated” in a matter of minutes.
She said: “This unique type of fire requires special measures to tackle the increasing problem.
“The UK should give serious consideration to following in the footsteps of New York City and better regulate lithium-ion batteries. We need to get on top of this issue now to prevent more lives being lost.
“There are too many reckless operators in this space, such as third-party sellers on online marketplaces, who are risking the lives of the public and giving responsible manufacturers of these products a bad name.”
In New York City, regulations were introduced after a number of fatal fires, requiring batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters to need third-party approval before being placed on the market.
According to the consumer safety charity, a fully charged e-bike battery can release a similar amount of energy as the amount of TNT in six hand grenades.
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, issued a warning for Britons to keep an eye on the products they use.
He added that it was “essential” for everyone who uses electric bikes, cars and scooters to only use compatible chargers.
In the event of a fire, Mr Capanna said: “Never block any exit ways when charging, the results could be fatal.”
Electrical Safety First is calling on more consumer awareness campaigns to be launched around the risks associated with the batteries and how to store the vehicles properly.
Electric scooters and electric skateboards are already banned on a number of train services and on Transport for London services.
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Experts are calling for more public education on e-scooters
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In most cases, people will not be able to complete their journey if they have an e-scooter with them, even if they are not riding it.