E-bikes have been blamed for surging numbers of battery fires in London, as fire chiefs warn against plans to legalise more powerful models. A total of 149 fires caused by exploding e-bike batteries were recorded by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) in 2023, an increase of 71pc from 2022, according to figures provided to The Telegraph. Three people died as a result of the incidents while around 60 people were injured. At least a further 40 e-bike fires have been recorded so far this year. The figures have prompted fire chiefs to warn that the two-wheelers, as well as similarly-powered e-scooters, are now the fastest-growing cause of blazes in the capital. The fires are typically triggered when the lithium battery of an e-bike becomes damaged or is charged using the wrong equipment, said Charlie Pugsley, the LFB’s deputy commissioner. He said: “Growing e-bike ownership is a good thing if they help people get around and it supports our climate objectives. “But what really worries us is the speed and severity of these battery fires when they break out. “Each one has the potential to risk people’s lives in the home.” In December last year, the LFB revealed how a mother...