Conversion kits the most fire prone e-bikes according to London Fire Brigade

"It is a bit like the Wild West... Factory e-bikes are regulated, but the conversion kits are not."

Explosive fires caused by cheap, badly built chargers and batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters, are ripping through London's homes every two days, the BBC wrote on August 16. 

However, not all e-bikes are the same - especially not when it comes to fire safety: London Fire Brigade now publishes statistics that almost 40 % of all e-bike fires are caused by bicycles equipped by conversion kits.

Conversion kits are cheap compared to buying a new prefabricated e-bike, and they allow a user to convert a conventional bicycle to an e-bike at home. 

The problem, according to LFB, is that the conversion kits often are made from cheap components, and often also with components that are not currently included in UK regulations for safety.

"At the moment it is still a bit of a wild west," e-bike conversion expert Gez Medinger said to the BBC.

"Factory e-bikes are regulated, but the conversion kits are not."

The brigade's Assistant Commissioner Charlie Pugsley claims e-bike fire is currently the "fastest growing fire trend" in London.

"It's approaching about 40% of fires have been down to conversion kits," he said.

"If you don't have it fitted safely, then it's not a safe product - and particularly if you don't use the right charger for it."

Current government requirements stipulate that electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) must show the power output, the battery's voltage and have a maximum power output of 250 watts.

Reportedly there are no such specific regulations for conversion kits in the UK.

Photo credit: Diagram illustrating a standard bicycle converted to an electric bicycle using a retail conversion kit. Photo by Mikefairbanks, Wikipedia Commons License.