An electric bin lorry has burst into flames in central London as an investigation has been launched into how the £580,000 ‘environmentally friendly’ vehicle caught fire.
Specialist crews were deployed in the early hours of Monday morning after one of the lithium battery-powered trucks caught ablaze, forcing roads across the West End such as Oxford Street and Duke Street to close.
Smoke was seen rising from the stationary lorry, as firefighters were seen trying to put out the inferno whilst surrounded by rubbish and other shrapnel.
Due to the risks posed by the electric vehicle such as potential reignition and toxic fumes, The London Fire Brigade (LFB) sent three teams from Paddington and a specialist Fire Rescue Unit (FRU) to the incident.
Disc cutters and saws were used by emergency responders to create access points on the vehicle’s side, allowing them to tackle the fire.
Specialist crews were deployed in the early hours of Monday morning after one of the lithium battery-powered trucks caught ablaze
Smoke was seen rising from the stationary lorry, as firefighters were seen trying to put out the inferno whilst surrounded by rubbish and other shrapnel
All occupants of the truck escaped without injury, as firefighting operations and investigations are ongoing.
The Westminster City Council told The Telegraph it will be conducting a full investigation into the cause of the fire, focusing on possible electrical faults.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: ‘Firefighters responded to reports of a dustcart alight on Mandela Way in Soho.
‘Half of the dustcart was damaged by the fire. There were no reports of any injuries.
‘Control Officers were called at 0210 and mobilised two fire engines and a Fire Rescue Unit from Paddington Fire Station to the scene. The incident was over for firefighters at 0757.’
This latest incident comes after fire chiefs issued an urgent warning to e-bike owners in September after fires related to the devices’ batteries increased by 70 per cent in 2023, with 270 lithium-powered machines burning in the last year.
A serious fire involving an e-bike on a platform at Sutton station, south London in March
One incident saw a whole home in Caerphilly, south Wales burnt to a crisp due to a fire started by an e-bike with a faulty battery
Fire and rescue services responded to 48 per cent more blazes from all lithium ion battery-powered devices last year than in 2022.
Serious incidents include a bike that burst into flames at Sutton station in south London during the rush hour in March.
Another horror incident involving an e-bike with a faulty battery saw a whole home engulfed in flames in Caerphilly, south Wales.
The family and their four dogs managed to escape to safety, but their home was left destroyed by the inferno.
MailOnline has contacted the Mayor of London for comment.