Overview
- One year after a Coventry flat fire linked to a self‑converted e‑bike battery left charging overnight, relatives are warning shoppers against bargain batteries and DIY conversions.
- Electrical Safety First advises buying only from reputable retailers, avoiding self‑installed conversion kits, and ensuring charger‑battery compatibility.
- New research from the charity indicates roughly 9% of people in Britain are considering e‑bikes, e‑scooters or conversion kits as Christmas purchases.
- Experts say substandard lithium‑ion packs and poorly made kits can fail violently, producing fires and toxic fumes that can overwhelm a room within seconds.
- Campaigners want legal responsibility for online marketplaces and a designated conversion‑kit safety standard, noting the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 now awaits secondary rules after a DBT ‘Buy Safe, Be Safe’ push.