E-Bike Catches Fire at London Train Station

We have a duty to report when an e-bike’s battery is the source of the fire, and this is one occasion where we can confirm that the source was an e-bike.

News reports are thin, but several accounts state that the owner had purchased from an online marketplace, not from the manufacturer. There’s nothing inherently wrong with purchasing an e-bike from an online marketplace, but his choice leaves open several possibilities that we caution our audience against.

First, had he purchased the e-bike directly from the manufacturer, reports wouldn’t state an “online marketplace.” Second, in purchasing through an online marketplace he may have purchased a used e-bike or one that had a refurbished battery, a practice we generally advise against. Third, some of these online marketplaces that sell new e-bikes are carrying ultra-low-cost e-bikes we consider substandard and choose not to review.

There isn’t enough information available to say whether the e-bike in question was used, had a refurbished battery or came from a brand making cheap e-bikes, but the buyer didn’t go the route of purchasing from a reputable direct-to-consumer brand.

The video offers a good portrait of what happens when a lithium-ion battery becomes compromised. As the first cell or cells heats up due to thermal runaway, smoke starts to escape the battery casing. After being ejected from the e-bike, there are a series of explosions caused by individual cells bursting and catching fire. As additional cells become compromised, they fly around like so many popcorn kernels.

While it’s scary watching, it provides an education in how it’s important to charge and store an e-bike away from anything flammable; the concrete and brick construction of the train platform made a significant difference in preventing the fire from spreading and causing additional damage.

See the complete video below: