E-bike: Woman killed in e-bike fire accident inquest finds

Sofia Duarte, 21, died in a fire at her flat in January 2023

A woman was accidentally killed in a fire caused by a converted e-bike battery, an inquest has heard.

Sofia Duarte, 21, died in the fire at her flat on Old Kent Road, Southwark, on New Year's Day 2023.

Southwark Coroner's Court heard the lithium-ion batteries ignited in the communal ground floor hallway below Ms Duarte's maisonette.

The family's call for a Prevention of Future Death Report was declined by the coroner due to insufficient evidence.

On Monday, the London Fire Brigade told assistant coroner Xavier Mooyaart that it was not possible to explain precisely why the bike's batteries ignited.

Two electric bikes were charging in the hallway and the fire began in the one that had been converted from an ordinary bike.

• Mum wants e-bike battery rules after daughter death

Ms Duarte, who tried to leave via the staircase, died of burns and smoke inhalation.

Nine other residents escaped by jumping out of the building's windows.

Ms Duarte's friend, Alda Simoes, 46, said the coroner's conclusion of accidental death was what the family expected.

"We just hope that the government takes measures and brings laws and rules that will protect the consumers and the public in general," she said.

Charlie Pugsley, assistant commissioner for fire safety at the London Fire Brigade, said: "We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to Sofia's family and close family friend Alda in helping us raise awareness of the dangers associated with charging and storing e-bikes and e-scooters.

"The brigade will continue to raise awareness to help people to stay safe and we will continue to call for much-needed legislation for online marketplaces to ensure products like conversion kits, batteries and chargers are strictly regulated."

'Tougher safety measures'

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, called on the government to bring in "tougher safety measures" to "reduce the risk of dangerous batteries entering people's homes".

This, she said, includes third-party certification of e-bikes and their batteries.

"We are urging the government to adopt our forthcoming Bill, which is being tabled in Parliament by Yvonne Fovargue MP, to ensure that nobody else has to go through the pain that Sofia's family are suffering," she added.

The Department for Transport said it was aware of the concerns about e-bike and e-scooter batteries and recently published charging and storage guidance.

"All e-cycles, as well as batteries and chargers, need to meet a number of product safety regulations to ensure they meet essential health and safety requirements before going on the market," it added.

"Users should ensure that they use only the charging equipment supplied with the bike, and should not tamper with the battery or settings."

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