Concerns over increased use of DIY e-bikes by food couriers

The vehicles are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are now responsible for a significant amount of recent house fires in West Yorkshire.

Recent figures from West Yorkshire Fire Authority show that firefighters have been called to 80 incidents involving such batteries since the start of the year.

“Self-converted” e-bikes and e-scooters – made using a normal bicycle/scooter and a motor kit that can be purchased at a market or online - are particularly vulnerable to fire when being charged.

At the latest meeting of West Yorkshire Fire Authority, fire chiefs told councillors that there had been a big push to warn users of the dangers of lithium-ion batteries. And one group the service was focusing on was couriers for companies such as Deliveroo, the meeting heard.

In recent years, food couriers have been an increasingly common sight on the streets of city centres. Many use e-bikes to deliver the food faster, and at the Authority’s Community Safety Committee, members were told that these bikes were often self-modified, rather than official e-bikes that have been safety tested.

The service recently carried out an event in Leeds city centre to offer advice to couriers – many of whom rarely interact with emergency services.

The event, which featured the remains of an e-scooter that had been destroyed by a battery fire, was funded by Deliveroo.

At Friday’s meeting, Tong Councillor Ursula Sutcliffe (Green) raised concerns that many couriers who use such vehicles lived in flats or shared accommodation – and this made the risk of their bikes catching fire even more serious.

The headquarters for West Yorkshire Fire and rescue Service (Image: T&A)

The report to the committee said: “While looking at incidents nationally it has become apparent that one real area of concern is e-bikes, primarily those that have been self-modified/converted.

“The conversion kits for this can be bought readily on online sites such as e-bay and are cheaper than buying a premade electric bike.

“With self-conversion comes the unknown standard and quality of the battery kits, non-expert knowledge in the conversion of the bike, in addition to the general risk factors of an e-bike.

“West Yorkshire Fire Service has attended over 80 incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in West Yorkshire this year, with many involving batteries which have been homemade or modified in some way.

“Working in collaboration with Deliveroo, the Police and other partners an event was held in Leeds City Centre aimed at engaging with the cycle courier community, with our focus being Li-Ion battery fires. Deliveroo supported with engaging with 105 of their registered delivery cyclists and were able to help further spread our messaging.

“It also provided access to a large employer like Deliveroo and we were able to make them aware of the safe use of e-bikes so that they can support and educate their couriers in the future.”

Andrew Shaw, WYFRS Road Safety Lead, said: “Lots of people are using these delivery services.

“These couriers are people who don’t normally engage with emergency services, so we have to look at how we get that safety message across to them.”

Speaking during the meeting, Cllr Sutcliffe said: “Do companies like Deliveroo have any responsibility towards their staff?

“Some of these delivery staff are living in shared houses where everyone is probably working similar jobs for the same company.

“I know a few in Bradford city centre, they are all going home to the same buildings after work and are all charging these lithium-ion batteries at the same time.

“It is only a matter of time before something happens.”

The report to members revealed that lithium-ion better fires are now the fourth most common cause of house fires in West Yorkshire.

Such batteries are also used in laptops and electric cars.

Explaining the dangers of the increase prevalence of such batteries, the report to the committee said: “These fires behave differently to other sources and burn at furious heats and rates of spread and have been the cause of fatalities.

“While Li-Ion batteries are found in lots of everyday items from mobile phones and laptops to e-scooters, e-bikes and e-cars, this common use hasn’t necessarily come with enough fire safety education.”