Mobility Scooters, E-Bikes and E-Scooters

Posted on 19 Jul 2024

If you own a mobility scooter, e-bike or e-scooter please follow the guidelines below.

Charging

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, only use the manufacturer approved charger, and buy an official replacement charger if yours becomes damaged.
Charge batteries while you are awake, and do not leave them to charge while you are not at home.
Unplug your charger when it’s finished charging.
Do not overcharge your battery – check the manufacturer’s instructions for charge times.
Ensure you have working smoke alarms.
Charge or store your mobility scooter or e-bike/e-scooter in a safe place, such as an unoccupied room. Ensure you have working smoke alarms in the same room and a door that you can keep closed.
Do not cover chargers or battery packs when charging as this could lead to over heating or even a fire.
Do not charge batteries or store your mobility scooter or e-bike/e-scooter near combustible or flammable materials.
Do not overload socket outlets or use inappropriate extension leads (use un-coiled extensions and ensure the lead is suitably rated for what you are plugging in to it).
If there is a mobility scooter or e-bike/e-scooter, or lithium-ion battery fire, do not attempt to extinguish the fire. Get out, stay out, and call 999.

Do not store or charge mobility scooter or e-bikes/e-scooter or on escape routes inside your home, or in communal areas of a multi occupied building. If there’s a fire, it can affect people’s ability to escape.
Store mobility scooter and e-bikes/e-scooter and their batteries in a cool place. Avoid storing them in excessively hot or cold areas.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for the storage and maintenance of lithium-ion batteries if they are not going to be used for extended periods of time.

Buy mobility scooter and e-bike/e-scooter, chargers and batteries from reputable retailers.
Many fires involve counterfeit electrical goods. Items which don’t meet British or European standards pose a huge fire risk. While genuine chargers (or battery packs) may cost more, it’s not worth putting your life at risk and potentially destroying your home by buying a fake charger to save a few pounds.
If buying an e-bike conversion kit, purchase from a reputable seller and check that it complies with British or European standards. Take particular care if buying from online auction or fulfilment platforms. Also be aware that if buying separate components, you should check that they are compatible.
Register your product with the manufacturer to validate any warranties – batteries are usually included in warranties. Registering makes it easier for manufacturers to contact you in the event of safety or recall information.
Check any products you have bought are not subject to a product recall. You can do this by checking Electrical Safety First’s website or the government website.

Batteries can be damaged if you drop them or if you crash your mobility scooter or e-bike/e-scooter. Where the battery is damaged, it can overheat and catch fire without warning. Check your battery regularly for any signs of damage and if you suspect it is damaged, it should be replaced and should not be used or charged.
If you need to dispose of a damaged or end of life battery, don’t dispose of it in your household waste or normal recycling. These batteries, when punctured or crushed, can cause fires in bin lorries, recycling and waste centres. Your mobility scooter, e-bike or e-scooter manufacturer should offer a recycling service.