Request ID: FOI-0029-2223 Date published: 04 May 2022
You asked
You recently banned private e-scooters on TFL’s network and premises:
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2021/december/tfl-announces-safety-ban-of-e-scooters-on-transport-network
• Please could you share with me information relating to the ‘recent fire incidents’ that caused this review; when and where did these events take place and what kind of e-scooter caught fire? Please provide me with all incident examples that led to the review. Please can you let me know if there have been any fire incidents involving e-bikes – and if so how many?
• Please can you provide the evidence you used to support this statement relating to TFL’s own e-scooter trial; “Rigorous safety measures are central to the trial, with vehicles that exceed the DfT's regulatory requirements for trial vehicles and that are considerably more robust than the most common private e-scooters”
• Please can you provide the evidence that you used to support this statement regarding e-bikes; “E-bikes are generally subject to better manufacturing standards and the batteries are usually positioned in a place where they are less likely to be damaged, and so are less of a fire risk”
• Were potential conflicts of interest or any commercial advantage accrued to the TFL’s own e-scooter trial considered at any time during the deliberations for this ban? Please provide details if so.
• If an e-scooter is disconnected or the battery is removed would you allow it to be taken on TFL’s network/premised? If not please clarify TFL’s interpretation of the difference between a mere scooter and an ‘e-scooter’.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0029-2223
Thank you for your request of 5th April 2022 asking for information about passengers taking e-scooters on the TfL network.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: Please could you share with me information relating to the ‘recent fire incidents’ that caused this review; when and where did these events take place and what kind of e-scooter caught fire? Please provide me with all incident examples that led to the review. Please can you let me know if there have been any fire incidents involving e-bikes – and if so how many?
Answer: Two fires associated with this type of equipment occurred on the TfL network in 2021. One involved an e-scooter, the other an e-unicycle (details below). The investigation into the fires was carried out by the London Fire Brigade (LFB), which confirmed that both fires were caused by defective lithium-ion batteries where a cell had ruptured causing adjacent cells to rupture. This resulted in the fires. Details of the locations where these incidents occurred, and the makes and models concerned (as provided to us by the LFB) are as follows:
Parsons Green London Underground station fire on 01 November 2021 (e-scooter) Appliance Manufacturer: Not known Model: Not known
Stanmore London Underground station fire on 26 October 2021 (e-unicycle) Appliance Manufacturer: Kebye Model: Not known
There have been no reported incidents of fires involving e-bikes on the TfL network. For information about fires involving e-bikes more generally you may wish to re-direct this question to the LFB. FOI requests to the LFB can be made via its website here: https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about-us/transparency/request-information-from-us/
Question 2: Please can you provide the evidence you used to support this statement relating to TFL’s own e-scooter trial; “Rigorous safety measures are central to the trial, with vehicles that exceed the DfT's regulatory requirements for trial vehicles and that are considerably more robust than the most common private e-scooters”.
Answer: Details of the safety features for the TfL e-scooter trial can be found on our website here:
As you can see, the TfL e-scooter trial includes the following features:
Riders must be 18 or over and hold at least a provisional driving license (whereas the DfT minimum age is 16);
The speed of trial e-scooters is capped at 12.5mph and, because of the geo-fencing technology the trial utilises, they will automatically reduce speed to 8mph in 'go slow' areas (whereas the DfT speed limit is 15.5mph). The same technology also brings the vehicles to a safe stop in ‘no go’ zones where they should not be ridden;
All first time riders must to do mandatory training on how to ride safely in London;
The trial e-scooters are maintained to a high level and have large wheels to help navigate road surfaces more easily;
Lights at the front and rear of the vehicles are always on throughout any rental.
Question 3: Please can you provide the evidence that you used to support this statement regarding e-bikes; “E-bikes are generally subject to better manufacturing standards and the batteries are usually positioned in a place where they are less likely to be damaged, and so are less of a fire risk”.
Answer: E-bikes are legal to use on public roads and are subject to the regulations set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 and the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (Amendment) Regulations 2015. Manufacturers are required to equip Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles with battery management systems / master control devices that prevent tampering or modification, so as not to prejudice safety by enabling the cycle’s performance to increase torque, power or maximum speed limits. Other e-vehicles - including e-scooters and e-unicycles - are not subject to the same manufacturing requirements and are not currently legal to use on public roads.
Question 4: Were potential conflicts of interest or any commercial advantage accrued to the TFL’s own e-scooter trial considered at any time during the deliberations for this ban? Please provide details if so.
Answer: No - possible conflicts of interest or commercial advantage were not identified as part of the decision making process. This is because the ban was introduced for safety reasons upon the advice of the LFB and further to a TfL safety review. The safety of our customers and staff is of paramount importance. Note that TfL does not make any profit from the trial (the operators pay a small fee, the vast majority of which goes to the participating boroughs, with the remainder paid to TfL to cover the cost of running the trial). Rental e-scooters are also not allowed to be taken on TfL services.
Question 5: If an e-scooter is disconnected or the battery is removed would you allow it to be taken on TFL’s network/premised? If not please clarify TFL’s interpretation of the difference between a mere scooter and an ‘e-scooter’.
Answer: At present, all privately owned e-scooters and e-unicycles are banned from the TfL network, and there is no exception for devices that have had their battery disconnected or removed. We are, however, monitoring the ban and are also communicating with other train operating companies to assess the ongoing risk and will consider this point as appropriate going forwards.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
