Recurring concern

Inadequate public warnings about domestic e-bike battery fire risks

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First reported 9 Dec 2024•Latest report 5 Aug 2025

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures to provide, maintain or make accessible clear public-facing warnings and safety information about the fire and life-threatening risks of storing e-bike or e-scooter lithium-ion battery appliances in domestic properties.

Not included

Excludes regulation, sale, approval or manufacturing controls for lithium-ion batteries where public warnings about domestic storage are not the deficient control.
Excludes battery, charger, wiring and product-design defects, including incompatible charging equipment, unless the assertion specifically concerns public warnings about domestic storage risks.
Excludes fire detection, firefighting, evacuation and emergency-response failures after a domestic battery fire occurs.
Excludes general lithium-ion battery awareness concerns without a domestic storage and e-bike or e-scooter appliance context.

Reports: 2
Individual concerns: 2
Date range: 2024–2025
Stated actions: 7

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Office for Product Safety and Standards2

National Fire Chiefs Council1

Office of the Chief Coroner1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

5 Aug2025
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
1. Insufficient public awareness of life-threatening risks from e-bike lithium-ion batteries stored in domestic properties
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 2
1. Action
  Work with government departments, safety organisations, local authorities, emergency services and retailers to amplify e-bike and e-scooter safety messages through their networks and communication channels.
  Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsStated in progress
2. Action
  Produce, translate and share safety videos setting out five key safety steps for e-bike users, particularly food delivery riders, with gig-economy companies.
  Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsStated completed
AI-generated summary

Mohsin Janjua · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Mohsin Janjua died on 02/12/2023 after a fire at his home, caused by the catastrophic failure of an ion-lithium battery charging an e-bike. The report raises concerns about the unregulated online sale of lithium-ion batteries, the responsibility of online marketplaces for product safety and legal compliance, and public awareness of the risks of e-bike batteries in domestic properties.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Insufficient public awareness of life-threatening risks from e-bike lithium-ion batteries stored in domestic properties
Wider context from the report
“Consider further steps to increase the general publics awareness with regard to the life threatening risks involved with lithium ion batteries from e-bikes in this case stored in domestic properties. ”
Source location
Mohsin Janjua · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Work with government departments, safety organisations, local authorities, emergency services and retailers to amplify e-bike and e-scooter safety messages through their networks and communication channels.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Public awareness In 2024 the Government’s safety campaign ‘Buy Safe, Be Safe’ was launched, aimed at raising public awareness of the risks from dangerous e-bikes, e-scooters and their components with advice on safer purchasing and charging practices. OPSS is working closely with other Government departments, as well as safety charities Electrical Safety First and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, local authorities, fire and rescue services, and retailers, to amplify these important safety messages through their networks and communication channels.”

Source location
Response from Office for Product Safety and Standards
Page 3 · response
Published 5 August 2025
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Produce, translate and share safety videos setting out five key safety steps for e-bike users, particularly food delivery riders, with gig-economy companies.

Verbatim wording from the response
“OPSS has also produced Buy Safe, Be Safe videos with five key safety steps that users should take if they own or use e-bikes. These videos have been translated into several languages. They are aimed particularly at food delivery riders, based on insights from gig economy companies. OPSS has shared the videos with those companies and encouraged them to raise awareness with riders and couriers.”

Source location
Response from Office for Product Safety and Standards
Page 3 · response
Published 5 August 2025
Open published response
9 Dec2024
Liverpool and the Wirral
Concerns raised1
1. Lack of public awareness of life-threatening risks from storing lithium iron battery appliances in domestic properties
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 5
1. Action
  Operate the Charge Safe campaign providing e-bike and e-scooter charging advice and battery fire-hazard warnings.
  Stated by National Fire Chiefs CouncilStated completed
2. Action
  Research e-bike and e-scooter fire risks with the ACER Group and international partners to identify existing evidence and knowledge gaps.
  Stated by National Fire Chiefs CouncilStated in progress
3. Action
  Reflect on national Home Safety Fire Prevention guidance and develop campaign resources addressing e-bike and e-scooter risks.
  Stated by National Fire Chiefs CouncilStated planned
1. Action
  Inform all Chief Fire Officers about relevant incidents and existing resources, and request their support to raise awareness.
  Stated by National Fire Chiefs CouncilStated completed
2. Action
  Continue raising awareness of unsafe e-bike, e-scooter and lithium-ion battery risks through stakeholder networks and communication channels.
  Stated by Office for Product Safety and StandardsStated in progress
AI-generated summary

Luke Marshall ALBISTON O'DONNELL · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Luke Marshall Albiston O'Donnell was an 8-year-old boy who died in hospital following a fire at his home. The fire began when an e-bike lithium battery ignited after coming into contact with combustible materials, and the battery-cell failure allowed the fire to develop rapidly. The report raises concerns that the public may not appreciate the life-threatening risks of storing e-bikes and similar appliances in domestic properties, and that communication about these dangers may be insufficient.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of public awareness of life-threatening risks from storing lithium iron battery appliances in domestic properties
Wider context from the report
“The general public do not appreciate the life-threatening risks involved with having lithium iron batteries, from electronic bikes in this case, stored in domestic properties. There appears to be a lack of communication/media coverage about the dangers involved with storing appliances such as electronic bikes/scooters in domestic properties. There have already been 3 deaths associated with lithium batteries in the home in Merseyside and we have been informed there a number of similar fatalities across England. ”
Source location
Luke Marshall ALBISTON O'DONNELL · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 1 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Operate the Charge Safe campaign providing e-bike and e-scooter charging advice and battery fire-hazard warnings.

Verbatim wording from the response
“We recognise the seriousness and devastating impact that fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in electric scooters can cause to families across the UK and note the increasing occurrences of these types of incidents. We are committed to supporting the sector in delivering impactful prevention campaigns and initiatives. This includes our Charge Safe - NFCC campaign which sets out public advice for charging e-bikes and e-scooters as well as providing warning signs that a battery could be a fire hazard.”

Source location
Response from NFCC
Page 1 · response
Published 10 December 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Research e-bike and e-scooter fire risks with the ACER Group and international partners to identify existing evidence and knowledge gaps.

Verbatim wording from the response
“As with all prevention activity, we recognise the significant challenge that fire and rescue services have in identifying and delivering behaviour changing interventions to individuals at risk. The growing market for e-bikes and e-scooters means that fire and rescue services are having to focus more resources to understand the demographics and behaviours of individuals that may be prone to these types of fires. To help fire and rescue services with this, we are looking to gain further understanding of the issues through more research. This includes working with our Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research (ACER)”

Source location
Response from NFCC
Page 1 · response
Published 10 December 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Reflect on national Home Safety Fire Prevention guidance and develop campaign resources addressing e-bike and e-scooter risks.

Verbatim wording from the response
“In doing this, we will not only be able to share key learning points with UK fire and rescue services, but we will also be able to reflect on national Home Safety Fire Prevention guidance and develop our campaign resources. This will ensure that those who own or operate e-bikes or e-scooters are enabled to understand the risks and prevent similar incidents from occurring in their homes.”

Source location
Response from NFCC
Page 2 · response
Published 10 December 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Inform all Chief Fire Officers about relevant incidents and existing resources, and request their support to raise awareness.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Finally, I have taken the immediate step of writing to all Chief Fire Officers specifically to inform them of this and other incidents of this type, providing details of existing resources and the intentions of NFCC to explore further learning and resources. I have also requested their support to raise awareness.”

Source location
Response from NFCC
Page 2 · response
Published 10 December 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Continue raising awareness of unsafe e-bike, e-scooter and lithium-ion battery risks through stakeholder networks and communication channels.

Verbatim wording from the response
“OPSS is currently working with other Government departments, as well as external stakeholders including Electrical Safety First, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, local authorities, fire and rescue services and retailers to amplify these important safety messages through their networks and communication channels.”

Source location
Response from OPSS
Page 1 · response
Published 10 December 2024
Open published response

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised1

Insufficient public awareness of life-threatening risks from e-bike lithium-ion batteries stored in domestic properties

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2

Concerns raised1

Lack of public awareness of life-threatening risks from storing lithium iron battery appliances in domestic properties

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5

Actions described in response 2

Actions described in response 5