Warning issued to shoppers after e-bike battery sparks house fire

by · Mail Online

A bus driver has issued a stark warning for Black Friday shoppers after his house was devastated by an e-bike batter that sparked a house fire.

More than 2,000 Londoners are said to be looking to get a bargain e-bike or e-scooter ion this year's deals, with one in five saying they would consider taking advantage of the cut-price day.

Don Hettiarachchi was left in sheltered housing for months after his son's converted bike created a devastating blaze.

The 49-year-old, from New Malden, had left the vehicle charging in the conservatory at the back of his house when it burst into flames.

He has only just been able to return to his home, which was wrecked by the flames in September.  

Mr Hettiarachchi said:  'I work night shifts and when I heard the smoke alarm, I initially thought it was some car alarms in the street outside.

'Disorientated, I went to have a look and found the whole of the bottom floor of my home filled with smoke. My son's converted e-bike was charging inside the conservatory, had caught fire and the kitchen was full of thick black smoke.

'Luckily the smoke alarms alerted us to get out of the house. I woke my wife and son and we escaped outside.'

Don Hettiarachchi was left in sheltered housing for months after his son's converted bike created a devastating blaze
The 49-year-old, from New Malden, had left the vehicle charging in the conservatory at the back of his house when it burst into flames
He and his wife have only just been able to return to their home, which was wrecked by the flames in September

The bike had been bought second hand by his son, and he had only been using it for two months.

It had been charging for more than five hours when it ignited, leaving them without a home.    

Experts are particularly worried about the dangers of modified electric bikes or conversion kits, which can catch fire if installed to a poor standard, if they use sub-standard parts or are charged incorrectly.

The kits, when bought online, come with a motor, controls and wiring but it is common for them to lack a battery and a charger, so the shopper will often need to purchase these items separately, leaving them at risk of purchasing an incompatible pair.

Read More

Revealed: London firefighters have put out blazes from faulty e-bikes and e-scooters every two days since start of 2023 

He continued: 'My wife is still suffering from shock at the moment. We both went to the doctor and took a month off work due to the stress. We stayed in emergency accommodation that the Council provided because our home was inhabitable.

'My house insurance expired in the summer. My father-in-law was ill and due to being preoccupied with his illness, I missed paying the house insurance renewal - we lost everything in the fire.

'For anyone thinking of buying a bargain this Black Friday, my advice is to really do your homework before you buy. Make sure the e-bike battery and the charger are compatible with one another. Make sure you buy from a reputable seller that you know and trust.

'Never leave them on charge unattended, in particular overnight, as you need to react should anything go wrong. Don't think it won't happen to you because it happened to us and my whole house was destroyed in less than ten minutes by an exploding battery.'

The bike had been charging for more than five hours when it ignited, leaving them without a home
The bike had been bought second hand by his son, and he had only been using it for two months

E-bike battery fires increased by 70 per cent in 2023, with 270 lithium-powered machines burning in the last year. 

Fire and rescue services responded to 48 per cent more blazes from all lithium ion battery-powered devices last year than in 2022.

Just two weeks ago, two died in a house fire after a converted e-bike burst into flames while people were sleeping at home.

West Midlands Fire Service said the blaze involved a peddle bike that had been converted into an electric bike, which was stored in the hallway of the property. 

'Buying from a reputable manufacturer or retailer has never been so vital when it comes to electrically powered bikes and conversion kits,' Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First said.

Read More

Watch the terrifying moment an e-bike battery EXPLODES - releasing plumes of toxic white smoke, sparks and flames

'These devices are useful purchases when they are compliant and safe and purchased from a reputable manufacturer, but if they are either substandard, charged incorrectly or conversion kits are installed poorly, they present a risk of a ferocious fire in the event of a catastrophic battery failure. 

'With Londoners looking to bag an e-bike bargain this Black Friday, remember that safety starts with where you shop. Unknowingly buying a substandard e-bike, charger or conversion kit online could have serious consequences.'

London Fire Brigade's Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Prevention & Protection, Richard Field added: 'We understand that people are trying to save money, but if you spot a deal this week that looks too be good to be true, it probably is.

'When shopping from third-party sellers via online marketplaces or auction sites, there is not the same level of regulation of products for e-bikes and e-scooters compared to buying from high street shops, so you can't be confident that your purchases will meet the correct safety standards.

'We are urging anyone looking to buy an e-bike or e-scooter, or the batteries, chargers or conversion kits, do so from a reputable seller.'