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Not sure why this seems to need an explanation (reading more of the thread would be recommended), but here goes.
It's a new cause of fire. The Fire Services are issuing strong warnings and very sensible recommendations against it. It's caused by powerful and volatile batteries being stored inside houses, often on charge (explosions outdoors seem to be mainly car batteries, although one bike battery did explode in Shepherd's Bush not long ago).
Fires have cut off escape routes, have occurred in overcrowded flats used by low-paid workers (see the case in Shadwell), and have caused devastating injuries and fatalities. Unsurprisingly, there have also been numerous destroyed buildings.
The problem arises from a near-total lack of regulation and failure to enforce existing regulations (the City Police seizing the odd bike isn't making much of a difference), e.g. about the many illegal e-bikes being ridden on the King's Highway.
All this is happening against the background of these bikes still being relatively rare. It's completely academic whether other causes of danger might be worse or not, and whataboutery won't help. The expert advice is clear, and much work needs to be done to prevent future fires.
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Oliver Schick
@yoav
“ 235 e-bike fires were reported in the UK, over the past two years”
Is this a big number? How does it compare with other causes of fire? Are these all fires or just in houses? How many e-bikes are there in the uk? How many of these were conversions?
I’m sure there are more questions one could ask. It’s very easy to focus on one tradegy and ignore the wider picture.