The UK Government has published a safety message aimed at reducing the risk of fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters while charging. It’s primarily aimed at everyday users, but it’s relevant reading for e-mountain bike owners too — especially anyone using a second-hand e-bike, a conversion kit, or a replacement battery and charger bought separately.

The key point is simple: lithium-ion batteries are generally safe when used as intended, but the risk rises when components are mismatched, modified, damaged, or sourced from sellers that can’t demonstrate compliance with UK safety requirements. Most riders won’t think twice about charging the night before a ride; the guidance is a reminder to treat charging as part of ownership, not an afterthought.

The five steps (in plain English)

The Government’s message boils down to a routine you can apply every time you charge: buy from reputable sellers, be cautious about second-hand and “too-cheap” deals, check the battery/charger you’re using is the one recommended by the manufacturer, charge in a safe place that doesn’t block exits, and never tamper with or modify the battery.

For eMTB riders, the most practical takeaway is to avoid “mix and match” setups. If your battery or charger isn’t the exact model specified for your system, stop and verify it before continuing. The same goes for batteries that have taken a knock, show swelling, or behave oddly (taking far longer to charge than usual, getting unusually hot, or cutting out unexpectedly).

What we’d do as good practice

If you charge indoors, avoid hallways and escape routes. Don’t charge unattended or while you’re asleep, and unplug once it’s finished. If you store your eMTB in a flat, consider where it sits overnight and where you’d go in an emergency. It’s also worth having smoke alarms installed and tested near the charging location.

This isn’t about scaremongering — it’s about removing the avoidable risk factors that appear again and again in fire incident reports.