Experts today issued a safety warning for people this Christmas after figures showed fires caused by exploding lithium batteries in electric scooters and electric road bikes for sale have soared in a year.

Fires caused by electric vehicles powered by lithium batteries increased from 67 in 2020 to 167 last year, an increase of 149%, according to Zurich Insurance (not an insurance company, right?).

The surge prompted insurers to issue Christmas safety warnings, leading to a holiday rush.

People buying these products and looking for cheaper alternatives amid a cost of living crisis could increase the incidence of lithium battery fires.

These new modes of transport caused 167 fires in the UK last year, compared with 67 in 2020, according to Zurich's FOI figures.

In June 2022, 60 London firefighters will be needed to fight a fire on the 12th floor of a tower block in Sheppard Bush, west London, caused by a faulty e-bike battery.

In July 2022, five people were hospitalized in Walthamstow, east London, after a fire caused by an electric bicycle.

In November 2022, an exploding electric scooter battery set fire to a house in Hampshire.

There have been several incidents in Zurich involving lithium batteries, including a £84,000 claim for a scooter that caught fire in a garage, a £13,000 claim for an electric bike that exploded in a customer's bedroom and another £6,000 claim for a fire inside a car. living room.

Zurich fears a boom in Christmas sales combined with tighter household budgets could further drive the trend.

Fires from electric scooters and e-bikes powered by lithium batteries jumped 149%. There are fears the trend's boom could lead to more such homes in Liverpool

Alastair Thomson, director of property claims in Zurich, said: "E-bikes and e-scooters bring new benefits but also new risks. We are concerned about the alarming rise in the number of fires caused by unsafe or improperly charged devices .

"Christmas shoppers should be aware of the potential hazards of lithium batteries, which can pose a serious fire risk if not handled properly.

"If you're shopping for a gift that's powered by a lithium battery, make sure you buy from a reputable brand and retailer and make sure it meets safety standards."

Fire investigators say the fires are often linked to low-quality, damaged or improperly charged lithium batteries, which can explode if mishandled.

An investigation finds 59 different online e-bike charger listings fall below necessary safety standards

An investigation by consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First found 59 different e-bike charger listings online fell below the necessary safety standards.

Many chargers don't even have a fuse, which means the charger can't cut off power if it fails, posing a serious risk of fire.

Electrical Safety First technical director Martyn Allen said: "We urge people to take extra care when buying e-scooters and e-bikes, as well as batteries and chargers.

"The lithium-ion batteries that power these vehicles can cause explosive fires if they are of poor quality or mishandled, so extreme care must be taken when using and storing them."

One in seven cyclists now owns an e-bike, with sales expected to hit £315m in 2021, up from £275m in 2020.

Fire investigators say the fires are often linked to poor-quality, damaged or incorrectly charged lithium batteries, which can explode if mishandled

The Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is also reaching out to the public following the massive blaze in Whitehaven on Sunday 3 December.

The pair were taken to hospital after thermal cameras spotted them engulfed in smoke.

The investigation found that the cause of the accident was a failure of the electric bike's lithium-ion battery.

CFRS wants to warn people about the dangers of charging indoors, especially while asleep.

Cumbria FRS Prevention Team Manager Angela Opie said: "Incredibly, we continue to see an increase in incidents involving e-scooters and e-bikes.

"When these batteries and chargers fail, they can be very ferocious, and because the fire can develop so quickly, it can become very serious very quickly."

In June 2022, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) said the family had "luckily escaped death" after their home in Huiton, Liverpool, was charred by a faulty e-bike battery that caught fire .

The MFRS said on Twitter that they had posted stunning photos of burned-down homes to show "significant risks" in the charging and storage of lithium-ion batteries.

Instead, MFRS urges e-bike owners to ensure they charge their e-bikes during waking hours and not to leave them unattended overnight.