More than 3,500 delivery riders across London have been taught how to keep their e-bikes from going up in flames, as the fire brigade marks a milestone year for its e-bike fire safety campaign.
The London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe partnership with Deliveroo has now run roadshow events for riders for three years. This year firefighters visited seven locations around the capital — Shoreditch, Ealing, Soho, Hammersmith, Dowgate, Lewisham and Old Kent Road — where hundreds of riders at each stop got face-to-face advice on the fire risks that come with lithium batteries.
The sessions cover the questions many riders never think to ask: where to buy a bike and charger you can trust, how to charge a battery without turning your hallway into a hazard, and how to spot the warning signs that something is about to go wrong.
E-bike fire safety drive reaches delivery riders where they work
Delivery riders are among the heaviest e-bike users in the capital, riding for hours a day and charging batteries at home overnight. That makes them both more exposed to the risk and harder to reach through ordinary safety messaging — which is why firefighters took the campaign directly to the roadshows rather than waiting for riders to come to them.
Council representatives, the charity Electrical Safety First and local journalists were invited along to several of the events to help spread the message wider.
London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Spencer Sutcliff attended the roadshow at Dowgate fire station. He said: “The Rider Roadshows with Deliveroo are invaluable for us to get the message out there to some e-bike users about how to buy safe products, the safest way to charge batteries and the best way to store devices. E-bikes and e-scooters are one of London’s fastest-growing fire risks, so we welcome partnering with brands like Deliveroo who want to support our #ChargeSafe campaign.”
He added: “This year we’ve seen 129 fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters (between January and the end of August). While the number is down by 16 incidents (from 145) in 2025, we know we still have work to do to keep Londoners safe. For every person we share #chargesafe information with – it literally can be lifesaving!”
The brigade is calling on other companies whose staff ride e-bikes to follow Deliveroo’s lead and help get safety advice to their riders.
Why e-bike batteries are a growing fire risk in London
Lithium batteries are behind a stubborn share of London’s fires. Firefighters say the worst cases almost always start the same way: a cheap bike or charger bought from an online marketplace, a battery left charging overnight in a hallway or bedroom, or a standard bike converted with a DIY e-bike kit that was never safety-tested.
Once a lithium battery catches fire it burns fiercely and can reignite hours later, giving anyone nearby little time to react. Recent incidents show how destructive they can be — the Harefield industrial blaze linked to a lithium-ion battery last month was a reminder of how quickly a single battery failure can escalate.
The campaign’s advice is deliberately practical rather than preachy: buy bikes, batteries and chargers from a reputable seller; never charge a battery while you sleep or block your own escape route with it; store devices away from flammable material; and never try to modify a battery yourself.
Enforcement is tightening around the same problem from the other direction — Ealing council’s new e-bike seizure powers mean dangerously modified or illegal e-bikes can now be taken off the borough’s streets.
City Hall backs tougher e-bike rules
Jules Pipe, the Deputy Mayor for Fire, said: “E-bikes are transforming how people travel and work, supporting thousands of delivery drivers across London every day. But the growing use of e-bikes must be matched by greater awareness of the dangers posed by unsafe chargers, batteries and illegal modifications. London Fire Brigade’s #ChargeSafe campaign is providing vital safety advice to help riders protect themselves, their families and their homes.”
He added: “Nobody should be put at risk by faulty or unsafe equipment. The Mayor and I will continue to back efforts to improve e-bike safety, strengthen regulation and ensure Londoners have the information they need to stay safe, as we work together to build a safer London.”
Deliveroo’s Policy and Sustainability Director, Paul Bedford, said: “We’re committed to strengthening e-bike safety for our riders and the public. Our joint events with the London Fire Brigade continue to be an important platform to raise awareness and engage riders on the dangers associated with un-safe e-bikes and battery usage. Together, we are working to reduce the risk of fires and promote a safer environment for all e-bike users in London.”
With e-bike fires still running at more than one every two days across the capital, the brigade says the roadshows will keep rolling — and that the falling numbers this year are a sign the message is starting to land.
