E-BIKE INVESTIGATION: The Cambridgeshire man who "lost everything" in 10 minutes
After an increase in fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters, we look into the safety issues around these increasingly popular items
Last updated 19th Dec 2023
E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming more and more popular and could be on many people's Christmas lists this year, but we've been looking into the safety issues around some bikes and batteries.
Back in June, Scott Peden's partner, two children and two dogs were killed when an e-bike left charging overnight exploded, setting fire to his home in Cambridgeshire.
Since that tragic night we've been investigating the dangers of e-bikes and e-scooters as more and more cases of fires caused by lithium batteries are reported across the country.
If you're considering buying an e-bike or e-scooter this Christmas - have a listen to our investigation to make sure you're buying the right products from the right places.
Scott's story:
Speaking exclusively to Greatest Hits Radio at the time, 30-year-old Scott Peden gave his account of the tragedy that took place at his home on Sackville Close in the early hours of 30th June.
31-year-old Gemma Germeney, 8-year-old Lily Peden, 4-year-old Oliver Peden and their two dogs all lost their lives that night.
Scott used his e-bike to commute to work and left it charging overnight underneath his staircase.
After the original battery which powered the device was stolen, he replaced it with one he found on eBay.
The replacement battery exploded while being left to charge overnight, it set fire to Scott's home killing his family and destroying everything he owned.
Scott spent over a month in hospital after the fire and nearly lost his life too.
WATCH: Our Senior Reporter Ellis Maddison went to meet him just weeks after he was discharged from hospital:
Ever since that meeting back in September, we’ve been investigating the safety of e-bikes and their batteries on Scott’s behalf.
Batteries for e-bikes and scooters contain the energy of six hand grenades
Leading charity Electrical Safety First found that since 2020 over 190 people have been injured, and at least 13 lives have been lost, due to e-bike and e-scooter fires in the UK.
According to the charity, when batteries fail a process called thermal runaway occurs, which releases a large amount of energy over a longer period of time, resulting in fire and toxic gas emissions, a bit like a firework.
They invited our Senior Reporter Josh Kerr to their office in London to take a look at some of the batteries they've come across online.
The dangers of counterfeit e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries
One of the issues we've come across time and time again during our investigation is the problems caused by counterfeit e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries
We revealed the Trading Standards team at the Port of Felixstowe, the busiest container port in the country, have detained over 13,000 e-scooters and e-bikes in the last two years which didn't meet safety standards.
Incompatible chargers also seem to cause some problems, as Eddie MacGregor from Peterborough discovered after buying one online.
Eddie, from Orton Goldhay, was on a family trip out when he got the phone call saying his home was engulfed in flames.
Our reporter Ellis Maddison went to meet him:
Since finding out it was due to an e-bike left charging, Eddie's been spreading awareness about the dangers of the technology.
"These batteries that e-bikes use don't just catch fire, they explode. It goes from nothing to a raging inferno in a matter of moments", Eddie told us.
"Don't buy an e-bike second-hand for a start. Don't buy it without a charger, that's a big no. Make sure you buy from a reputable dealer and avoid the lower end of the market.
"The bike itself was complete as it should be, but we bought a new charger for it. There's lots of chargers available online. The one we bought appeared to be compatible but clearly there was an issue with it."
Calls for a change in the law on e-bikes and e-scooters
Calls for change in the law to better regulate e-bike and e-scooter fires have been made up and down the country.
Electrical Safety First is among those urging for more to be done.
They want a change in the law which they say would propose "sweeping, but essential, changes to how e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries are regulated across the whole of the UK" and help prevent future deaths.
They published the following report on the issue: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/battery-breakdown/
The main changes ESF wants to make if the Bill is backed by MPs:
- Mandate e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to undergo third party approval before coming to market – regulating them in the same way as fireworks;
- Impose a temporary ban on the sale of ‘universal chargers’ until measures are put in place that ensure the safe compatibility of batteries and chargers;
- Introduce clearer markings on lithium-ion batteries to make it clearer to households that they are not suitable to be disposed of in the general waste;
- Introducing a communications protocol to ensure the battery and charger can talk, similar to mobile phones, to reduce the risk of fires due to overcharging from incorrect voltage.
They're not the only ones calling for change, in London e-bike fires are the fastest growing fire risk, which has prompted the fire service to call for a crack down on online sales of dodgy e-bike batteries.
These calls are also being echoed by other services and authorities up and down the country.
So what is the Government doing about the dangers of e-bikes?
Electrical Safety First tell us that in the last 18 months battery fires have been reported in more than 100 parliamentary constituencies.
So at every opportunity in recent months we’ve asked the Government what they’re doing to regulate this danger.
We've spoken to the Transport Secretary Mark Harper who said: "There are things that the Government is doing to look at the safety of lithium batteries and how they should be charged."
We also chatted to former Roads Minister, Richard Holden: "The office of product and safety standards are working very closely with the fire brigade to ensure product safety issues are properly assessed and action is taken to protect consumers right across the country"
When the Prime Minister visited Suffolk earlier this year we jumped at the chance to ask him what's being done to prevent more of these fires: "I know there's been an incident recently locally which I'm obviously not familiar with the exact details of.
"But what I do know is that the office of product safety is aware of the incident and I think they're in touch to establish what's happened to make sure that we have rigorous standards in place to keep everyone safe."
In just the last few weeks Electrical Safety First has confirmed with us that Labour MP for Makerfield, Yvonne Fovargue, has taken up their proposed Bill.
We're told it's expected to be read as a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the New Year - that means she'll have ten minutes to make a case for the law change in Parliament.
An opposing speech may also be made before the House decides whether or not the Bill should be introduced.
If the MP is successful the Bill is taken to have had its first reading.
What should I consider if I still want to buy an e-bike or e-scooter?
If you own an e-bike or e-scooter, or are planning on getting one, fire services up and down the country have issued advice on what steps you can take to make it safer to have in your home.
Here are some of the top tips from firefighters:
- Avoid charging the battery overnight
- Do not leave charging for any longer than it needs to fully charge
- Plug the cable into a main socket rather than an extension lead
- Do not cover the battery with anything while charging
- Make sure you use the battery recommended by the manufacturer
- Always use the manufacturer approved charger for the product, and if you spot any signs of wear and tear or damage buy an official replacement charger for your product from a reputable seller
- Ensure you have working smoke alarms on every floor of your home and in the room where you charge the bike/scooter.