A Government withdrawal notice, published online in January 2024, was issued to Amazon, eBay and Alibaba, stating that the UPP battery posed a serious risk of fire1. The notice covers models U004 and U004-1 of the UPP (unit pack power) e-bike battery, which the Government says should not be used as they are dangerous and can cause a serious fire or explosion that spreads rapidly, and which can lead to serious injury or death1. The warning was re-issued by the Government on the .GOV website to engage with the wider business community1.
The consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First found seven private listings of the battery with the affected model numbers U004 or U004-1, advertised for sale in Greater Manchester, Greater London, Hull, Derbyshire, Southampton, Reading and more1. It raised serious concerns about 13 further listings showing an identical triangular UPP branded battery where the model number could not be confirmed1. In a follow-up investigation almost one month later it found a further six listings where the model number matched that of the Government warning1. Meta confirmed it had removed the listings as a precaution after the charity raised its findings with the Office for Product Safety and Standards1. One battery was described by its seller as being "a little bit burnt" from being "left near a radiator"1.
The Government warning states the batteries present a risk of entering thermal runaway, a process whereby a battery reaches up to 600 degrees centigrade, releases toxic gases and creates a ferocious fire that is almost impossible to extinguish1. Fires involving a UPP battery have been reported across the country. A fire in Coventry in September 2023 saw a high-rise property devastated after a fire linked to the affected UPP battery spread quickly, leading to enforcement action that helped see the battery removed for sale via various online distributors1. A home in Surrey was damaged after a converted bike caught fire while on charge, linked to an unknown model of UPP battery1.
Affected batteries can be identified by their distinctive triangular case, stickers reading "UPPBATTERY" and/or "U004 BATTERY", an LED display or indicator, a power switch and a charge socket1. A black sticker on one of the outer sides of the case displays the model number1. Government advice suggests those with the battery dispose of it safely by first checking with their local collection sites to ensure they cater for battery disposal1.
"We urgently need sellers to check if they are unknowingly passing on a dangerous e-bike battery. A single unit of this affected battery being sold online could put a household at serious risk. It's essential all online marketplaces and businesses proactively engage with the published Government warning."
Why it matters for households
An e-bike battery is a stored energy source kept inside the home, often charged overnight and often in a hallway or near an exit. The failure mode described in the Government warning is not a slow decline but a rapid one: thermal runaway releases toxic gases and produces a fire that is almost impossible to extinguish1. That shapes what a household can realistically do about its own exposure. A battery bought second hand carries no paperwork trail, and the charity's findings show affected units moving between private sellers rather than through retailers1. Identification therefore rests on the physical markings on the case rather than on a receipt. For a household that charges a battery indoors, the practical question is whether the unit in the house is one of the models named in the notice, and whether it has been damaged. Guidance on lithium battery safety and recalls covers identification and disposal, and the wider regulation and policy picture sets out how product rules are made and enforced.
What happens next
The Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is progressing through the House of Commons1. Electrical Safety First is calling for new laws to prevent substandard batteries coming onto the market and being available online, and for e-bike batteries to be independently certified as safe before sale in the UK1. At present, manufacturers can self-declare their batteries are safe1. No date has been reported for the Bill's passage or for any change to the certification rules.
Sources1 cited
- Dangerous product risking fire found for sale across the UK - How to spot one, electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk