London Fire Brigade has been working with major companies including Amazon and Deliveroo to share its #ChargeSafe messaging following a significant number of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters in the capital.
London firefighters tackled 179 e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2023 and three people sadly died, with more than 60 people injured. In 2024, around 100 fires have been recorded so far.
The #ChargeSafe campaign is raising awareness about how people can reduce the risk of fire from e-bikes and e-scooters, and the collaboration with Amazon and Deliveroo is ensuring that people who buy and use these products are receiving important safety advice.
Roadshows deliver fire safety tips to riders
On Tuesday (13 August), Deliveroo riders visited Shoreditch Fire Station for the latest of Deliveroo’s Rider Roadshows. Riders had the opportunity to speak to firefighters and were shown videos of e-bike fires to demonstrate how quickly these fires can spread and how ferocious they can be. They were also given guidance about how they can use their device safely, including around charging and storage.
In the months leading up to the event, London Fire Brigade has also attended several other Deliveroo rider roadshows, including in Ealing, Wimbledon and Marble Arch, talking to riders about the #ChargeSafe campaign.
Amazon customers receive safety tips after purchase
Online marketplaces have become a common outlet to purchase products for e-bikes and e-scooters; but the Brigade is not as confident that all products available, such as conversion kits, batteries and chargers have been built to the required safety standard.
Thanks to a collaboration with the Brigade, when someone buys an e-bike, e-scooter or accessory such as a battery pack, conversion kit or charger from Amazon, they will receive an email notification with easy-to-understand tips on how to use and store them safely. Customers can also find the #ChargeSafe advice along with other safety tips from experts on Amazon while they shop.
As well as providing more effective safety information, Amazon also requires businesses selling e-bikes, e-scooters and accessories to provide documented testing carried out by an accredited laboratory in addition to requiring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner for Prevention & Protection, Craig Carter, said: “E-bikes and e-scooters are one of London’s fastest-growing fire risks so it is extremely positive that organisations such as Amazon and Deliveroo have recognised the part they can play to support our award-winning #ChargeSafe campaign.
“We know that food delivery riders are amongst those who use e-bikes to travel sustainably across the capital. That is why it is great to be partnering with Deliveroo on events like this to engage riders directly and educate them on how they can use their e-bike safely, particularly in the home.
"Meanwhile, the post-purchase product alerts now sent by Amazon mean that #ChargeSafe messaging is sent directly to customers providing crucial safety advice about how to charge devices correctly and the importance of keeping escape routes clear.
“We encourage all companies with an interest in e-bikes to take the same approach to ensure safety advice is reaching even more people.”
Paul Bedford, Director of Policy and Sustainability at Deliveroo said: "At Deliveroo, the safety of our riders is a top priority and we’re proud to partner with the London Fire Brigade on its #ChargeSafe campaign. We support riders who want to use sustainable vehicles whilst riding with us, but it’s so important those who sell this equipment ensure it meets the highest safety standards.
“Our Rider Roadshows provide a fantastic platform to engage with riders directly on how they can use their e-bikes safely and responsibly. Together, we can reduce the risk of fires and promote a safer environment for all e-bike users in London."
Rajdeep Datta, Director, Trustworthy Shopping Experience, Amazon said: “The safety of customers is our top priority. Having expert tips delivered direct to customers which are short and easy-to-understand can increase awareness and minimise risks.
“We believe that initiatives like this, which brings together organisations like London Fire Brigade and Amazon, can provide more effective product safety advice and keep customers safe.”