The market for e-bikes and e-scooters has really caught fire over the last decade. Problem is, so have the devices themselves. Fire departments in cities around the world are being called out daily to attend to spontaneously combusting electrically-powered mobility devices, and often they get there too late to save lives.
With their eco-friendly nature and ability to zip through urban streets, faster than pure human-powered alternatives, it’s easy to see why e-mobility bikes and scooters have become popular. And it’s worth remembering that the cases of e-bike and e-scooter fires are relatively rare when compared to the sheer number of these vehicles on our streets. But because there really are millions of these devices in circulation, the incidences of fire are by no means uncommon.
According to data provided to The Atlantic by the city’s fire commissioner, New York City has suffered 100 battery fires so far in 2023, resulting in 13 deaths and 71 injuries. In one case a fire left 18 children injured at a day care center in Queens. Other cities both in the U.S. and around the world are enduring similar problems. London’s Fire Brigade has been called out to an e-bike or e-scooter fire one day out of every two this year.
As car fans we all know that lithium battery fires aren’t limited to e-bikes. Multiple EVs and hybrids have caught fire and in some cases the automakers have been forced to outright tell owners not to drive them until a fix can be found. The tech industry has also suffered its share of problems. Remember when certain Samsung phones were banned for airplanes?
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But the e-mobility fire trend is different in a few ways. First, the batteries are large relative to the size of the device, yet the devices are often stored and charged inside apartment buildings where they pose a huge danger. And second, the e-mobility industry has drawn in lots of new, small companies that may be forced for budget reasons to buy their batteries from less reliable sources, potentially unwittingly selling dangerous bikes and scooters as a result.
Another related issue is that if a company became aware of a defect it might be harder for them to track the users down than it would be for an automaker or smartphone manufacturer. Throw in the issue of cheap, poor quality replacement batteries and chargers being widely available on the likes of Amazon and eBay and it’s easy to see why so many cases of fire are being reported.
Authorities are beginning to crack down, but they face a big challenge due to the number of devices already out on the streets. Starting in September, New York will ban the sale of e-bikes and lithium batteries that haven’t met recognized safety standards, the NYT reports, and the city’s commissioner has vowed to eradicate businesses that store batteries and e-devices in dangerous conditions, asking residents to report culprits to the 311 hotline.
So how do you know your two-wheeled micro electric vehicle is going to catch fire before it does? Fire services say failing batteries tend to generate more heat than normal, and may signal their impending demise with longer charge times. But the big danger signs are hissing or cracking sounds, burning smells, smoke and bulges in the battery pack.