Help to safely store electric bikes and scooters

Published: Friday 28 June 2024

This is a generic image of an e-scooter

There have been a number of fires across the UK as a result of faulty batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters.

With their increasing popularity, concerns have been raised by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on how these items are being stored within homes.

If you or a member of your household use or own an e-bike/e-scooter, there are various ways you can reduce the risk of fire:

  • Don’t charge your battery overnight to reduce any risk of overheating or fire while you sleep.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when charging and always unplug your charger when it’s finished charging.
  • Don’t store your e-bike/e-scooter in any designated fire escape or evacuation routes. If it’s stored in your own property, make sure it doesn’t block access.
  • If you can, store and secure the e-bike/e-scooter outside of your property, e.g., in a lockable shed or bike store.    
  • Always buy e-bikes/e-scooters, chargers and batteries from reputable retailers and make sure they meet your needs and the storage space available. 
  • If your battery or charger shows any signs of damage, replace it immediately as damaged chargers can overheat and catch fire.

Fires involving the batteries of e-bikes, e-scooters and also mobility scooters can spread quickly and are difficult to put out. In the event of a fire call 999 immediately.