UK charity Electrical Safety First (ESF) is asking for support to ensure the safety of lithium-ion batteries.
ESF launched the campaign in June 2024 with the aim to save lives, cut down on fires and save damage to property. The campaign is focussed on four issues:
- That e-bikes and e-scooters and the lithium-ion batteries used to propel them are subject to independent testing before being marketed. Currently this is not the case.
- That regulations are made to ensure the safe disposal of the batteries. Currently this is not the case resulting in fires in bin lorries and waste disposal sites.
- That charging kits and conversion kits used on e-bikes are also safe. Currently regulations do not cover this.
- That online marketplaces through which many goods are now sold are subject to the same safety regulations as high street shops. Currently this is not the case.
The campaign has the support of a large number of organisations including the National Fire Chiefs Council and many other county fire brigades as well as the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and over 600 individual local councils. Helpful discussions with government ministers are already taking place and ESF would like the support of more local councils to keep the momentum going as the bill that will contain legislation on lithium-ion batteries, the Product Safety and Metrology (PRAM) Bill, will be reaching the House of Commons soon.
How to support the campaign
Ron Bailey, a researcher for Lord Foster who has been campaigning on this issue in the House of Lords and a parliamentary advisor to ESF, is seeking support for the campaign from parish and town councils. Ron asks for support in the following ways:
- State your council supports the campaign by emailing Ron at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Alert your MP to the upcoming bill and ask them to speak in the second reading debate about the need for greater safety regarding lithium-ion batteries.
More information
To find out more about the campaign download a PDF of a webinar held in December 2024 by ESF: Safety of Lithium-Ion-Batteries Campaign webinar or visit the designated page on the ESF website USING THIS LINK.
