Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The e-bike battery mistake behind UK house fires
By Lewis Whitter, wedding & events photographer (11+ years) · How we pickIf you're converting a bike to electric, the battery matters more than the motor. Coroners have linked deaths in UK house fires to cheap replacement batteries bought online and fitted to converted bikes.
So buy the battery and the charger together from the kit maker, and never swap in a different charger. Skip no-name replacement batteries from marketplaces.
Charge it while you're awake and at home, not overnight, and never by your front door or on the stairs, because that's your way out. Fit a working smoke alarm where you charge.
And if a battery swells, gets hot, smells or takes a hard knock, stop using it. Full safety checklist is linked below.
The picks
Read next
The e-bike kit part people skip, and why it mattersThe one part of an e-bike conversion kit people skip is the torque arm. And it matters. A hub…Read the guide →
The Only 3 Home Gym Buys Worth ItThree home gym buys that actually get used. One. Adjustable dumbbells. Two. A squat rack with…Read the guide →UK-legal e-bike conversion kits explained: the rules, the kit types and staying safeUK-legal e-bike conversion kits explained: the 250W, 15.5mph and no-throttle rules, front hub…Read the guide →