The fires on e-bikes have stopped, but riders are still making a dangerous mistake

E-bikes, Electric scooters Other micromobility devices have changed the number of people moving across cities. It’s fast, convenient and can help replace short car trips or crowded subway rides. But as these devices grow in popularity, the safety of lithium-ion batteries has become a serious concern, especially in crowded cities like New York.

I talked to Robert Sloan, Ph.Dsenior vice president and chief scientist at safety science company UL Solutions. Tell me what riders should know before purchasing, shipping, or storing a battery-powered e-bike, scooter, or similar rideable vehicle.

Sloan also explained how safer batteries, smarter certifications and better passenger habits help reduce lithium-ion fire risks, and why you should check a product’s safety certification before purchasing.

Shipping location is everything

Slone’s biggest warning: Don’t charge or store your device in front of your only outlet.

“If there’s a problem, if there’s a fire, there’s not a lot of notice,” he said. “This is not your typical fire in terms of dynamics. It’s more like an explosion.”

Many riders come home tired, park their bike near the door, plug it in and go to sleep. It’s convenient, but it may also block the only way out if something goes wrong.

Slone cautioned against using aftermarket chargers or replacement batteries not designed for the device. Even a bike that has been safe up to that point can become dangerous if paired with the wrong charger or battery.

“These systems are designed to work together,” he added. “If you go to aftermarket and start mismatching batteries or chargers, that’s definitely when we’ve seen issues.”

UL certification, and why it’s important

Many people focus on speed, range, or price when purchasing an e-bike or scooter, but battery certification may be one of the most important safety features to look for. Sloan said riders should check whether the bike and battery have been tested to recognized safety standards before purchasing, especially with uncertified batteries continuing to play a major role in lithium-ion fires.

UL 2849 certification covers the electrical system of the e-bike, while UL 2271 certification applies to the battery pack. According to Slone, the testing process includes overcharging testing, water ingress, humidity, vibration, drop testing, motor stress, and checks to ensure the battery management system can properly stop unsafe conditions.

E-bike fire statistics in New York

The good news: Safety is improving. Numbers for lithium-ion battery fires in New York have declined sharply since the worst year of the crisis, Sloan said. The improvement has been supported by certification, better manufacturing, and public education from groups such as the New York City Fire Department.

But certification claims also need to be verified. You can use UL solutions Search IQ product A tool to check if the product has already been tested and approved by the company. This is important because fake certification labels can mislead shoppers. UL Solutions has redesigned its certification label with 3D security features to make counterfeit UL labels harder to copy and easier to verify.

UL Solutions made a public presentation A lawsuit was filed last year against Fly-E Group regarding alleged counterfeiting of the UL mark, and a settlement was reached.

For riders, the takeaway is simple: Don’t cut corners. Buy from reputable brands, check certification claims, use the charger that came with your device and never block it while charging.

As e-bikes and electric scooters become faster, smarter, and more powerful, battery safety should remain part of the conversation.

Post testing phase

UL Solutions says certification doesn’t stop once a product passes testing. According to Robert Sloan, the company conducts unannounced follow-up inspections and pulls random production samples directly from factories around the world to ensure that shipped products remain identical to the originally approved versions.

“We don’t want the gold sample,” Sloan said, referring to the specially prepared units that manufacturers are likely to provide during scheduled testing. Instead, UL engineers are conducting unannounced surprise checks at manufacturing facilities in regions including China, Southeast Asia, Mexico and elsewhere. The goal is to verify that batteries, chargers and electrical systems continue to meet the same safety standards required during the initial certification process. If a product is no longer in compliance, UL can suspend or revoke certification and stop shipments.

Sloan noted that products do not necessarily need to be tested directly by UL Solutions to meet UL’s safety standards, as many Laboratories recognized by OSHA The certification process has been approved. Other recognized laboratories, including Intertek, SGS, TÜV Rheinland and CSA Group, can also certify products to standards such as UL 2271 and UL 2849 through OSHA-certified testing programs.

While many of the incidents included in the FDNY’s official numbers involve micromobility devices such as e-bikes, scooters and other disposable electric devices, the category can also include hoverboards, laptops, power tools and other battery-powered electronic devices. For this reason, the chart above reflects the total number of lithium-ion battery fires, not just e-bike or scooter fires. It’s also worth noting that the 2025-to-date figure of 87 fires is based on partial reports and not a final FDNY total for the full year.