Lithium-ion incidents are rising as EV numbers grow
Electric car fires are rising, but the risk remains proportionate to the rapid growth of EV ownership. For ATFs and vehicle recyclers, the priority is not alarm, but robust lithium-ion battery controls: early identification, quarantine of damaged vehicles, safe storage, staff training and clear emergency procedures.
Fire brigades across the UK attended 279 electric car fires last year, up 133% from the 120 incidents recorded in 2022, according to new research from QBE Insurance.
The increase reflects the rapid growth of electric vehicles on UK roads. However, the figures also show that EV fires remain rare and are rising more slowly than EV ownership itself.
Between the end of 2022 and 2025, UK electric car registrations more than tripled, increasing by 203% from 664,150 battery-electric passenger cars to around two million. On that basis, the fires recorded affected fewer than 0.02% of the UK electric car parc.
Why EV fires create a different operational risk
Although uncommon, electric vehicle fires present a different challenge from conventional vehicle fires because of the behaviour of lithium-ion batteries.
Adrian Simmonds, risk manager at QBE Insurance, who compiled the study, said:
“Thermal runaway caused by these types of batteries burns differently, takes much longer to tackle and can require up to ten times more water to contain.”
Thermal runaway is the chemical reaction in which a battery irreversibly overheats, usually following impact damage, overcharging or overheating. Once it begins, it can be unpredictable, spread quickly and take significantly longer to bring under control than a conventional vehicle fire.
For UK ATFs and vehicle recyclers, the practical message is clear: EVs and lithium-ion batteries require specific risk controls from the moment a vehicle enters the site. That includes identifying damaged battery packs, quarantining high-risk vehicles, managing storage distances, training staff, and ensuring emergency response plans reflect the realities of lithium-ion battery fires.
Lithium-ion battery fires now occur every five hours
QBE issued Freedom of Information requests to all 49 UK fire and rescue services, with 42 services responding.
The data covered three vehicle categories: electric cars, e-bikes and e-scooters.
Across all three, fire services attended 1,760 lithium-ion battery fires last year, up 147% from 713 incidents in 2022. That equates to 4.8 fires per day, or one lithium-ion battery fire roughly every five hours.
By comparison, in 2022, fire brigades were dealing with the equivalent of around two lithium-ion battery fires per day.
E-bike fires are rising fastest
The most significant increase was recorded in e-bike fires, which rose by almost 250% over the three-year period.
E-bikes accounted for 520 fires last year, almost a third of the total. Of those, 230 incidents were attended by the London Fire Brigade, representing 44% of all recorded e-bike fires.
Where fire services recorded further details, converted or retrofitted e-bikes appeared more frequently than officially manufactured models. QBE said this finding “reinforces the importance of purchasing certified products from reputable retailers”.
For recyclers, the e-bike trend is relevant because lithium-ion batteries are increasingly entering waste, salvage and recycling streams from multiple sources, not only end-of-life cars. Small battery packs, chargers and modified devices can still create major fire risks if they are damaged, incorrectly stored or mixed with general waste.
Where lithium-ion fires are happening
The QBE data also shows where incidents are occurring:
|
Location |
Share of recorded fires |
|
Homes |
46% |
|
Outdoors |
31% |
|
Commercial properties |
23% |
The commercial property figure is particularly important for ATFs, dismantlers, storage yards, logistics operators and waste sites. Even where the original fire risk begins with consumers, end-of-life vehicles and batteries eventually move into commercial environments, where poor segregation or delayed identification can increase the consequences of an incident.
Fire incidents by vehicle type
|
Incident type |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Increase 2022–2025 |
|
Fires involving an electric bike |
149 |
272 |
373 |
520 |
+249% |
|
Fires involving an electric car |
120 |
158 |
207 |
279 |
+133% |
|
Fires involving an electric scooter |
107 |
134 |
162 |
182 |
+70% |
|
Fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in all EVs |
713 |
1,138 |
1,456 |
1,760 |
+147% |
Source: QBE Insurance FOI request to UK fire brigades. Data supplied by 42 of 49 UK fire services.
Recent recalls highlight wider fire-risk scrutiny
The report follows a number of vehicle recalls linked to fire risk.
In February, Volvo recalled around 10,500 EX30 SUVs in the UK and 40,000 globally over concerns relating to battery fires. Owners were advised not to charge their vehicles indoors or under cover and to limit charging to 70% to reduce the risk of fire.
In March, Volkswagen recalled more than 100,000 ID.3 and Cupra Born electric hatchbacks worldwide over concerns that battery module faults could trigger fires. In the UK, 2,261 drivers were affected.
However, fire-risk recalls are not limited to electric vehicles. In August, Stellantis recalled 72,000 UK vehicles fitted with 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol engines. The recall affected 28 models across brands including Alfa Romeo, Citroen, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Vauxhall.
What this means for ATFs and vehicle recyclers
The figures do not suggest that electric cars are routinely catching fire. They do, however, underline that lithium-ion battery fires are a growing operational risk for the recycling, salvage and dismantling sectors.
For ATFs, this means EV risk management should be treated as a site procedure, not an occasional exception. In practice, operators should consider:
- early identification of EVs, hybrids and high-voltage components at intake;
- clear quarantine procedures for crash-damaged, flood-damaged or suspect vehicles;
- safe storage areas with suitable separation from buildings, other vehicles and combustible material;
- staff training on battery damage indicators and emergency escalation;
- controls for loose batteries, modules, chargers and e-bike or e-scooter packs;
- documented communication with insurers, fire services and downstream battery processors.
The key issue is not simply how often EVs catch fire. It is the potential severity and complexity when damaged lithium-ion batteries are handled, stored or processed without the right controls.
Safe charging, storage and disposal remain central
Simmonds said lithium-ion battery fires “continue to increase”, making it “vital” that individuals and businesses take steps to manage the growing risk.
He said: “Awareness of safe charging, storage and disposal is essential to keeping people and property safe. People should use only certified e-bikes and batteries, charge them away from escape routes and avoid charging items overnight.
The statistics suggest retrofitted bikes are more prone to these incidents, so we would encourage consumers to stick with reputable manufacturers and avoid unregulated devices.”
Regional data shows London recorded the highest number of incidents
London Fire Brigade recorded the highest number of lithium-ion battery fires in 2025, with 522 incidents, nearly a third of the national total.
This was followed by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, which reported 126 lithium-ion battery fires, and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, which attended 117.
Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service was the only authority to report a year-on-year reduction in lithium-ion fires. The reduction coincided with updated e-bike and e-scooter safety guidance issued in 2023.
Product safety rules are also changing
The rise in lithium-ion battery incidents has added urgency to product safety reform.
In July, the UK Government granted Royal Assent to the Product Regulation and Metrology Act, which is intended to overhaul product safety rules and address emerging risks linked to uncertified goods, including e-bikes sold through online marketplaces.
For vehicle recyclers, the direction of travel is clear: lithium-ion battery safety will remain under increasing scrutiny from regulators, insurers, fire services and customers. Operators that can demonstrate robust EV and battery handling procedures will be better placed to manage risk, protect staff and maintain insurer confidence.
Source: www.dailymail.com
Further Reading on ATF Professional
- Best practices for handling lithium-ion batteries
- UK lithium-ion battery recycling: bridging the capability gap toward a circular future
- Thatcham Research’s Electric Vehicle Blueprint could prevent growing numbers of unnecessary write-offs
- Game-changing digital tracking takes fight to rogue waste traders
Subscribe to the ATF Professional newsletter for essential updates on end-of-life vehicle dismantling, depollution and recycling
