The number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in the UK has risen to an alarming level. According to data from the insurance company QBE, 1,760 such incidents were recorded in 2025 alone, which means one fire occurs almost every five hours. Over the last three years, the number of these incidents has increased by 147 percent. This is reported by Ixbt.com reports .
According to statistics, the main causes of fires are electric bicycles and e-scooters. Currently, they account for one-third of all battery-related fires. The situation is particularly severe in London: fires involving electric vehicles in the capital make up 44 percent of all battery incidents, causing five deaths in three years.
Experts point to low-quality, uncertified batteries and chargers sold through online stores as the primary cause of fires. Often, batteries ignite while charging, especially at night or in residential hallways. The resulting 'thermal runaway' process causes the internal part of the battery to heat up rapidly, leading to the release of toxic gases and explosions.
Fire safety services are also focusing on the problem of improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries. Discarding them with regular waste causes fires in garbage trucks and recycling plants. According to insurers' estimates, the annual damage caused by these incidents has exceeded 1 billion British pounds.
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