TfL Bans Non-Folding E-Bikes After 143 Fires

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TfL has banned all non-folding e-bikes from London's Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line, and DLR starting March 31, 2025, after several dangerous fire incidents

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The ban follows a frightening incident at Rayners Lane station in February when an e-bike burst into flames on the platform, prompting calls for action.

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Fire statistics reveal a shocking pattern: 143 e-bike fires in 2023, 142 in 2024, and 14 in January 2025 alone across London.

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Modified e-bikes with aftermarket conversion kits pose the highest risk, but TfL says it's impossible to distinguish them from factory-built e-bikes.

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Folding e-bikes remain permitted as they're considered less likely to have been dangerously modified with unsafe battery systems.

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E-bike riders can still use the Woolwich Ferry, river services, coach services, and the new Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle Service launching April 7.

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TfL has deployed 450 enforcement officers across the network, with fines up to £1,000 for those who ignore the new rules.

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Lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes can experience "thermal runaway" – a dangerous chain reaction where the battery heats uncontrollably, leading to fires and toxic smoke.

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The London Fire Brigade has launched a #ChargeSafe campaign to educate the public about safe e-bike charging and storage.

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