“Life Hasn’t Been the Same” Father Whose Family Died in E-Bike Battery Fire Calls for Urgent Safety Measures
Scott Peden, a grieving father from Cambridge, is calling for urgent safety measures after losing his partner Gemma, 31, and their two children, eight-year-old Lilly and four-year-old Oliver, in a tragic fire caused by an exploding e-bike battery. The fire, which also claimed the lives of the family’s two dogs, left Peden, 30, in a coma for a month and with prolonged injuries, told The Independent.
June marks one year since the devastating incident, and Peden reflects on the irreversible impact it has had on his life. “Life hasn’t been the same since,” he said, adding, “I feel like my life has ended and I don’t know how to move on.”
Peden recounted the night of the fire, revealing how he was unaware of the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries. “Before the fire, I had no idea about the dangers of these lithium-ion batteries. I bought my battery online and just assumed it would be safe, I never imagined it could be so dangerous,” he explained.
Describing the harrowing moments when the battery exploded, Peden said, “The battery exploded under my stairs, whilst my family was asleep. Flames were coming up the stairs like a flamethrower. The fire and smoke filled the house up in seconds. I told them to jump but they couldn’t get out. I’ve lost everything from that one night and my heart has been left broken.”
Supported by the charity Electrical Safety First, Peden is urging political parties to implement mandatory safety certifications for e-bikes, e-scooters, and their batteries. He emphasized the importance of third-party certification to ensure safety, saying, “My life has been ruined but I can help to save someone else’s”, via BBC.
Currently, companies are allowed to self-declare the safety of their e-bikes and batteries. Peden and Electrical Safety First argue that independent certification, similar to requirements for other high-risk products like fireworks and heavy machinery, is essential to prevent future tragedies.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, echoed Peden’s call for legislative action. “Right across the country people are dying because of these fires, and people like Scott are left living with the grief and devastation,” she said. “Legislation is desperately needed and time is of the essence… we want to work with any future government to address the problem as a priority. They will have the power to save lives and prevent future heartache.”
As Peden continues to cope with his unimaginable loss, he hopes that sharing his story will lead to critical changes in safety regulations, sparing other families from similar tragedies.