Lithium battery fires are increasing in Britain

According to Qbe data, lithium battery-related fires are rapidly increasing in Britain. Although there is a rise in electric vehicles, the risk is much higher in e-bikes...

Scraper SystemJune 02, 2026, 07:12 PM

Lithium battery fires in Britain have significantly increased in recent years. According to data from the global insurance group Qbe, the number of fires rose from 713 in 2022 to 1,138 in 2023, 1,456 in 2024, and 1,760 in 2025. If the current trend continues, this number will exceed 2,000 within a year in 2026. The data indicates approximately a two and a half times increase over a three-year period. This means a jump from an average of two fires per day to 4.8 fires per day. In other words, the country is experiencing a period where a lithium battery catches fire approximately every five hours. The figures related to electric vehicles are also on the rise. In 2022, 120 lithium battery fires affected electric vehicles, increasing to 158 in 2023, 207 in 2024, and 279 in 2025. Thus, a 133% increase was recorded from the beginning to the end of the period. However, the share of electric vehicle fires within total lithium battery fires decreased. This rate was around 16.8% in 2022 and dropped to 15.9% in 2025. During the same period, the growth in the number of electric vehicles outpaced the increase in the number of fires. The number of electric vehicles on the road in Britain rose from 664,000 to nearly 2 million in three years. This corresponds to an increase of about 206%. So, while the vehicle fleet grew, the rise in fires did not progress at the same pace. A Qbe spokesperson said that paying attention to correct charging, storage, and disposal methods is critical for safety for both people and property. It was also emphasized that awareness of safe usage habits among electric vehicle users has increased. The most concerning picture emerged with electric bicycles. In 2025, e-bikes were involved in 520 fires; this number represents approximately a threefold, or 249%, increase compared to 2022. This figure also corresponds to about one-third of all lithium-ion battery fires that occurred last year. The data suggests that a significant portion of the risk may be linked to preventable causes. Many e-bikes involved in fires were found to have tampered parts or low-quality components. Industry experts highlight the importance of using only certified e-bikes and batteries.

Lithium battery fires are increasing in Britain

According to Qbe data, lithium battery-related fires are rapidly increasing in Britain. Although there is a rise in electric vehicles, the risk is much higher in e-bikes...