Cambridgeshire Fire Service calls for law change on e-bike batteries

A fire service is calling for the law to change on the sale of chargers after an e-bike battery fire caused the death of a mum and two children.

Gemma Germeney, 31, and her daughter and son died following the fire at their home in Cambridge in June.

Cambridgeshire Fire Service has written to the coroner requested they push for better regulation of online sales.

The coroner has yet to complete the inquest and said the matter was still "subject to investigation".

The fire claimed the lives of Ms Germeney, Lilly Peden, eight, and Oliver Peden, four, and was believed to have been caused by an electric bike that was left charging overnight.

In the letter the fire service said: "There continues to be a lack of regulation for online marketplaces, where people are able to purchase batteries and chargers which may not meet product safety standards."

It added it had concerns with e-bike conversion kit chargers "that can be used, or incorrectly matched, with battery packs, increasing the risk of fire".

The fire service said the solution would not rely "solely with improved regulation", but also with "education of the safe use of private light electric vehicles".

The government's Office of Product Safety & Standards has published information for consumers to raise awareness around the safe purchasing, use and charging of e-bikes and e-scooters.

The coroner's office said the matter was still ongoing and a "pre-inquest review hearing will be listed in due course".

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