Dear LPG, 

I suspect we have all heard of the dangers that e-bikes pose. We worry about them being so quiet that you cannot hear them coming. I remember them becoming newsworthy for all the wrong reasons just before the pandemic hit, and for a while the news was all bad. It was not long after that those stories of exploding e-bikes became a large part of the narrative. For a while, it felt as if nearly every day brought news of another two-wheeled story with an explosive ending. I remember thinking that I knew no one who had one, and consequently, I could rest in the knowledge that such explosions would never happen anywhere near me.   

It is all about the batteries that power them, the dreaded lithium battery.  But the truth is that the battery that provides the power for any chargeable gadget is most likely to be lithium-based, and while it does not happen too often these days, they really don’t like to be too hot. 

Have you noticed just how many things we have that don’t need to be connected to an electricity supply when we are using them these days, and just how many of those things need to be charged when not in use? 

Here is a bit of information that might be new to you. Nearly every rechargeable gadget runs on lithium batteries, the very same ones that power those e-bikes. I did a bit of googling and found a list that includes some things I never even thought of…    

The list included laptops, tablets, cordless power tools, vaping devices, e-bikes, wireless headphones, electric toothbrushes, shavers, cameras, smart doorbells, computer gaming controllers, some TV remote controls, rechargeable vacuum cleaners, and portable phone power banks.   

I would argue that we older people are less likely to have many of these things, and few of us have heard stories of an exploding electric toothbrush (although, having written that sentence, I did ask Google, which could even find a few instances where that has happened).  

All the information I found on the subject advises that it is best if the lithium batteries in our rechargeable gadgets don’t get too hot, especially if you want the batteries to last and be sure that they won’t explode. 

And then we come to the reason I felt it necessary to send this message. I am writing on 3 July 2026, and I think we can all agree that it has been hot in the UK for a few weeks now. On more than one occasion during the recent heatwave, I have noticed that my mobile phone can feel quite hot to the touch after a couple of al fresco telephone calls, and I am stressing the word hot rather than warm. 


After all the talk of explosions, I want to stress that my intention is not to scare LPG readers.   I asked Google another question, which eased my exploding mind a little; according to the internet, the chances of any lithium battery exploding without a bit of intentional help is not that high, but a hot phone is not to be ignored.   Keeping them cool is advantageous when it comes to extending their battery life and minimising any fire-related results, and making sure that they don’t get wet is to be advised as well.  I have found some videos with a few tips that might help when it comes down to keeping your phone cool.    


OK, Lee 

 

 

 

OK shares some videos on the subject, including one which needs to be introduced with a ‘don’t try this at home’ message…

 

 

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