JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
THE QUESTION
Do e-scooters and e-bikes pose a fire risk?
THE SOURCES
- Jeremy Robshaw, St Johns County Fire Rescue Communications Chief
- Robby Dawson, Southeast Regional Director of the National Fire Protection Association
THE ANSWER
Yes, e-scooters and e-bikes can pose a fire danger if they are not charged and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions or if the battery is damaged.
WHAT WE FOUND
Jeremy Robshaw with St. Johns County Fire Rescue says the fire danger usually arises from lithium-ion batteries being charged outside of the manufacturer’s recommendations.
“The fire danger risk is generally associated with the charging process. So anytime we're using these, our recommendation is always to make sure that you're using them within the manufacturer's recommendations for that specific device,” Robshaw said. “Anytime you go outside of those recommendations, that risk of fire occurring increases.”
St. Johns County Fire Rescue recently responded to a fire in St. Augustine Beach that Robshaw says was caused by a lithium battery e-bike.
“The biggest challenge with that fire, and it is one of our primary safety tips, is that the bike was being charged directly in the exit point from the residence,” Robshaw said. “If you are going to charge inside the residence, then make sure you're not doing it in a place that's going to prevent you from getting out should something occur.”
Fortunately, he says everyone made it out safely.
His advice is to make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions, and only us e devices, batteries, and charging equipment listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly. And don't keep charging the battery once it's fully charged.
“And if you modify that charger or use a charger that's meant for a different device, you could get a condition that's overcharging that battery. And that's what causes the failure of the battery,” Dawson said.
We can verify, yes, e-scooters and e-bikes can pose a fire danger if the lithium-ion batteries are damaged or not used correctly. So always follow the instructions from the manufacturer.
“Any bike or scooter or hoverboard or personal mobility device you get from the factory or from a new sale, as long as you're maintaining it and as long as you're taking care of it. It does typically do real well,” Dawson said.
For more safety tips click here.