May 29, 2025: UK firefighters are tackling at least three lithium ion battery fires a day, following a 93% surge between 2022 and 2024, according to research published by business insurer QBE on May 27.

E-bikes are a major contributor, being linked to nearly 30% of all recorded lithium ion battery fires in 2024, according to analysis of data acquired by QBE under Freedom of Information requests to UK fire services in March 2025.

E-bikes accounted for 362 fires in 2024, compared to 181 in 2022. QBE said that equated to the nation’s fire services tending to an e-bike fire almost every day last year.

London accounted for almost a third of all lithium ion battery fires in the UK (31%) and nearly half of all e-bike-related fires (49% or 178 incidents) in 2024.

Between 2022 and 2024, fires involving EVs rose by nearly 80% (131 to 232). While the number of EVs on the road have more than doubled in the same period, the risk from EV fires is substantial due to their fire intensity and speed of ignition and spreading caused by lithium-ion batteries, QBE said.

For those fires whose location was recorded, the most frequent one was residential properties, followed by outdoors and commercial premises.

Adrian Simmonds, practice leader for property risk solutions at QBE, said: “Lithium ion battery fires continue increasing at a worrying pace. These fires burn differently, they take longer to tackle, typically need 10 times more water to put out and are often more harmful to the surrounding environment.

“While QBE supports the adoption of e-transport, we also call for stricter regulation. For instance, the UK should stop the sale of rogue e-bikes and other unregulated devices.”