E-bike explodes at train station sending flames flying across platform

Yet another warning over second-hand e-bikes has been issued after one exploded on a railway platform.

Commuters at Sutton station in south London narrowly avoided being singed after seeing smoke billowing out of the bicycle and darting out of the way.

Just five seconds after the fault began, part of the bike fell off onto the ground and huge flames and sparks began shooting out from the main chassis.

The explosion was so fierce that it shot a chunk of the bike several yards down the platform.

A chain reaction quickly followed as parts which had scattered onto the ground exploded into smaller pieces.

Nobody was injured, though senior firefighter Nigel McLachlan said the consequences could have been ‘devastating if the timings had worked out differently’.

‘This incident only serves to highlight that when buying these products, it’s very important to purchase them from a reputable high street seller so you know the full history of the purchase,’ he warned.

The explosion peppered the platform with flaming parts, some of which exploded again

‘If items are bought from online marketplaces there is more risk that the bike is sold without the correct battery and charger which can lead to a catastrophic fire.’

There have been 40 e-bike and e-scooter fires in London alone so far this year, according to London Fire Brigade.

The bike’s owner, Sahab Singh, 25, said he had had no problems with it since buying it on an online marketplace four months ago.

He added: ‘I never had any problems with the e-bike until the day of the fire. I was travelling to work in Crystal Palace.

‘The bike started smoking on the train platform and then burst into flames. I feel lucky that I escaped and no one was injured. It was very scary.’

London Fire Brigade shared footage of the incident, which happened last month, to urge rail stations to be ready for such incidents and raise awareness of safety measures for users.

London Fire Brigade’s e-bike/e-scooter safety tips

Always use the correct charger, bought new from a reputable seller – using the wrong one raises the risk of fire.

Never used a modified battery.

Avoid using batteries, chargers bought from online marketplaces.

Let the battery cool between use and recharging and check for signs of malfunction, such as overheating or changing shape.

Do not leave the battery unattended while charging and unplug the charger as soon as it’s done.

Do not convert a pedal bike into an e-bike yourself – get a professional to do it.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.