A leading university expert has warned of the dangers of 'exploding' e-bike and e-scooter batteries.
Professor Paul Christensen said they had claimed eight lives worldwide this year.
He holds the Chair of Pure and Applied Electrochemistry at Newcastle University and is raising awareness of the dangers of charging e-bikes and e-scooters at home.
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"We can prevent every one of the deaths and injuries," he said. "There have been 57 serious fires so far this year, and 97 injuries and eight deaths.
"If an electric bike battery explodes you have an eight per cent chance of dying and 65% chance of ending up in hospital. The Government needs to educate on the risks and hazards."
Prof Christensen, 63, advises fire service personnel around the world, and has highlighted the 'previously understated' hazard of vapour cloud explosion from the batteries. When overheated, crushed or overcharged, gases can be produced and in certain circumstances their temperature can increase very suddenly.
This results in an explosive vapour cloud that includes hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and very small drops of the organic solvents used in the cells. Exploding batteries pose the biggest emerging threat of fire in London, according to fire chiefs.
There have been 37 fires in the capital this year started by an e-bike or e-scooter, a 60% increase on the same period last year.
Conversion kits allow an electric motor to be added to bikes, but not all come with a battery. Cheaper batteries sold second hand do not always adhere to safety guidelines.
There are around one million e-scooters on Britain's roads, many used by food delivery drivers. Sofia Duarte, 21, died on New Year's Day after an electric bike battery burst into flames and trapped her in a flat in Bermondsey, south London.
Her mother, Maria Frasquilho Macarro, is campaigning to raise awareness of the dangers.
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