Batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters should be regulated like fireworks and heavy machinery to better ensure their safety, according to the Electrical Safety First (ESF) Battery Breakdown report.

Currently, e-bikes and e-scooter manufacturers can self-declare whether their products meet safety standards. However, the charity argues that the batteries should be reviewed by a third party before being placed in the UK market due to the risk of fires they pose.

The recommendation is similar to the requirements made for specific products such as pyrotechnics, heavy machinery and medical devices. It also resembles the requirements introduced in New York City in March 2023 following a spate of fatal fires.

The report also follows rising international concern over the risk of fires posed by lithium-ion batteries. The London Fire Brigade has stated it has been called to an e-bike or e-scooter fire every two days on average. In June, a woman and two children died...