Free electric bike safety events taking place this month

As the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries increases across the country, people who own electric bikes are being invited to attend one of the FREE safety events being held in Norfolk next month.

Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service (NFRS) and Norfolk County Council Trading Standards are holding the drop-in sessions in Great Yarmouth, Norwich and King's Lynn for those who use e-bikes for work or leisure to talk about buying, charging and disposing of the batteries safely. Electrical Safety First will also be on hand to deliver expert advice.

Emyr Gough, Head of Prevention and Protection at NFRS, said: "Across the country and here in Norfolk we are seeing a rise in the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.

"There have been some devastating fires caused by e-bikes in other parts of the country and both our service and Trading Standards want to help keep people safe by sharing some key information."

In Norfolk, the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries has risen from four in 2023 to ten in 2025.

Part of the event will be to talk to people about the dangers of conversion kits - which allow people to add an electric motor to their bicycle and could put themselves and others at risk if done improperly.

DIY installations can also lead to damage of the kit, increasing the chances of battery failure and the likelihood of a fire.

Other advice includes:

• Only buy e-bikes from reputable retailers
• Only use a professional to carry out a conversion
• Only use the correct charger for your battery
• Never leave your device charging unattended or when you are asleep
• Never block your escape routes with an e-bike
• Fit working smoke alarms where you are storing or charging your e-bike

Sponsored by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, the FREE events are being held at:

• Great Yarmouth - Regent Road, outside Market Gates Shopping Centre - Wednesday 18 March, 4-7pm
• UEA - The Street - upper level - Thursday 19 March, 11am-2pm
• Norwich City Centre - bottom of Orford Hill - Thursday 19 March, 4-7pm
• King's Lynn - outside the Vancouver Quarter - Friday 20 March, 12-4pm

For more information and advice, visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/lithiumbatteries