Home / Disasters and Accidents / Newham Council Demands Food Delivery Firms Act on Surging E-Bike Fire Risks
Newham Council Demands Food Delivery Firms Act on Surging E-Bike Fire Risks
7 Nov
Summary
- Newham Council seeks "food delivery charter" to ensure e-bike safety
- London Fire Brigade responded to 181 e-bike/e-scooter fires in 2025 so far
- Illegal e-bike modifications and counterfeit batteries blamed for many fires
As of November 7th, 2025, Newham Council in London is calling on food delivery companies to take urgent action to address the growing threat of e-bike fires. The council is seeking the development of a "food delivery charter" that would require firms like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat to provide riders with guidance and support to ensure their bikes are legally compliant and roadworthy.
The move comes in response to a sharp rise in the number of fires involving lithium batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters across the city. According to the London Fire Brigade, they have responded to 181 such incidents so far in 2025, with six occurring in the Newham borough alone. Newham Council's report states that the borough has "a high concentration of food-delivery riders" and that a growing number are using e-bikes, some of which are believed to have been illegally modified.
