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E-Bike Battery Fires: A Deadly Problem


Fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries—which are used to power electric bicycles—have proven to be violent, fast-moving and tough to extinguish.Get more news about Custom Electric Bicycle Battery,you can vist our website!

So far this year, the FDNY says 66 fires have been started by lithium-ion batteries, killing five people. Last year, the city saw 216 fires and six deaths related to the batteries.

In a series of reports, NY1 will examine the issues from all angles.

We will introduce you to people who survived those fires, and you’ll learn how their lives are forever changed.

In some instances, there is a growing call to ban the bikes from residential buildings. We’ll take a closer look at the legal challenges, and what some management companies are doing—or not doing—to safeguard people and property.

For the tens of thousands of delivery workers who rely on e-bikes to keep up with the growing demand of delivery apps, the fires are sparking concerns, adding another threat to an already dangerous job.

So far, Mayor Eric Adams has signed a series of bills calling for stricter regulations on e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries sold in the city. The City Council is also introducing legislation to install safe charging stations and provide reduced-cost or free lithium-ion batteries that meet safety standards.
The electric-bike craze, which took off during Covid-19 lockdowns, now has a dark side: uncontrollable and deadly fires from the lithium-ion batteries that power them. The number of blazes is rising rapidly, triggering warnings from fire officials.

E-bikes and scooters have been rapidly growing in popularity around the city, and bike shops have taken notice.

“Pre-pandemic, we sold a few e-bikes here and there. Post-pandemic, we’re selling a lot more e-bikes,” said Shane Hall, who buys the merchandise then sold to customers at Bicycles NYC on the Upper East Side.

“I probably get a phone call two to three times a week from some vendor that has an e-bike for sale,” Hall added.

So they sell more and fix more of them, too, as the number of fires associated with the bikes and scooters have been rising.

“Some are designed well and evaluated for safety and others are just kind of coming in and being sold for much cheaper than those,” said Adam Barowy, a research engineer with the UL Fire Safety Research Institute.

The hundreds of fires that started with these bikes and scooters the last few years spurred the legislation signed by Mayor Adams.