Coroner urges government action over e-bike fires

Abdul Oryakhel died while trying to escape a blaze caused by a lithium-ion battery

A coroner is calling for government action over electric bike battery fires after the death of a man who was trying to escape a blaze at his home.

Abdul Oryakhel fell from the window of his 16th floor flat on Stapleton Road in Bristol on 25 September 2022 after a lithium-ion e-bike battery pack overheated and ignited.

Following an inquest into the 30-year-old's death, Maria Voisin, senior coroner for Avon, issued the plea in a report to the government.

A response is required by 12 September.

In her report, Ms Voisin said there was a "lack of understanding of the dangers" of lithium-ion batteries used for e-bikes and e-scooters.

The fire broke out in the early hours of 25 September 2022

She added that there is currently no British or European standard to control what type of batteries and chargers can be sold in the UK and there is an increase in people buying and using them.

“I am aware that other coroners have written similar reports but this only goes to emphasise that preventable deaths continue," she said.

“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action," she added in the report.

Two other prevention of future death reports have been written by coroners in England in relation to e-bike battery fires in the past year.

'Escalating threat'

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of the charity Electrical Safety First, said: “The evidence is indisputable that the status quo is costing lives.

“It is essential the next government prioritises this issue and introduces tighter product safety laws for e-bikes and their batteries in a bid to prevent these devastating fires."

The charity is calling for third-party certification to be introduced for e-bikes and e- scooters to reduce the risk to life caused by substandard batteries and their accessories.

“We first presented our proposals to tackle this escalating threat last year and since then we have seen a worrying increase in e-bike fires across the UK," she added.

“This problem is worsening and without urgent government intervention more lives will be lost.”