Are we getting closer to legislation on Lithium-Ion Batteries? The Lithium-Ion Safety Bill and what it could mean for EV Fire safety.

The UK is moving towards greener ways of powering vehicles and adopting lithium-ion batteries are a key part of infrastructural growth. Use of electric vehicles, e-bikes and battery storage systems continues to rise quickly, which raises growing concern around the safety of lithium-ion batteries.

In September 2024 the House of Lords saw a second reading on the Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill, introduced by Lord Redesdale which was well received by Lord Berkeley (member of the labour party). Although this bill is yet to become UK law, this is a significant milestone and indicator of what we are heading towards in terms of EV fire safety and the law. Political recognition of risks associated with EV and lithium-ion batteries is growing.

This blog post explores what the bill is trying to do and what it might mean for your business.

Why has the Bill been created?

When introducing the Bill, Lord Redesdale highlighted several serious incidents involving lithium-ion battery fires, emphasising that their greatest danger lies in how incredibly difficult they are to extinguish once they start. Thermal runaway events can take days to fully extinguish with a real possibility to continuously reignite.

He cited one frightening example: a ship carrying hundreds of electric vehicles for export caught fire after a single car’s battery ignited. The blaze rapidly spread to neighbouring vehicles, and despite surroundings of seawater and freshwater to extinguish the fire, nothing could stop it. The ship eventually sank and emitted gasses that endangered the rescue team and the crew. This example is an illustration of how quickly lithium-ion fires can escalate beyond control.

The London Fire Brigade has also raised concerns, successfully persuading Transport for London to ban e-scooters from the Underground network following multiple battery fire incidents on trains and platforms.

Lords Redesdale and Berkeley questioned whether the devastating fire at Luton Airport’s multi-storey car park could have involved an electric vehicle. Although official statements insist it did not, they voiced doubts that have resonated with a public growing increasingly aware of battery fire risks. Many of these incidents, they argued, receive limited publicity, with the full scale of the problem often underplayed.

It has been made very clear, however, that this Bill is not anti-EV and strongly supports lithium-ion technology as part of the green transition but stressed that if we are to embrace it safely, we must establish robust regulation, enforceable safety standards, and ensure EV fire risks are fully integrated into the UK’s fire safety framework.

Why It Matters

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, they’re in EVs, tools, bikes, scooters and more. But when things go wrong, thermal runaway can turn a small fault into an intense, self-sustaining fire that’s extremely difficult to extinguish.

It is said, 2025 is set to be the worst year for e-bike and e-scooter fires with 169 recorded by the end of September in London alone. Demonstrated in this article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr5q1yn9p1zo

The Bill’s backers argue that better standards, testing and oversight are urgently needed not just to prevent fires, but to rebuild public confidence in battery technology.

What Happens Next?

The Bill will continue to be discussed in the House of Lords and as publicity on these fires grow, stands a high chance of developing into laws and legislation in the UK as we roll out the lithium-ion battery adoption.

The debate has moved battery fire safety up the political agenda and several of its proposals are likely to reappear in future legislation.

What does this mean for your business?

Whether through this Bill or future regulation, tighter controls on lithium-ion batteries are coming and your business must be prepared for it. Your current fire safety solutions are unlikely to be enough to control the devastating impact of EV fires.

It means:

• Higher compliance expectations for manufacturers, suppliers and installers
• Increased scrutiny of battery storage sites and EV charging infrastructure
• Greater awareness of the limits of traditional fire suppression systems against thermal runaway

For organisations involved in EV infrastructure, energy storage or fleet operations, now is the time to review fire risk assessments and ensure they address the unique hazards of lithium-ion batteries.

How can you get ahead?

We have a number of fire safety solutions ranging from battery storage solutions to site monitoring systems that can make your business meet better compliance, and most importantly protect human lives.

Get in touch with us today at sales@bat-products.co.uk