Every day, thousands of people rely on electric bikes, scooters, hoverboards, or other e-mobility devices to get them where they need to be. But the intense conditions these devices encounter in daily use — or through unsafe storage or charging practices — can increase the risk of damaging the batteries powering them. Damaged e-bike batteries are at greater risk of entering thermal runaway, an uncontrollable, self-heating state that can lead to smoke, fire, or explosion.
Find answers to five common questions to help prevent the risk of battery fires in e-bikes and e-scooters.
How can I tell what e-bike battery I have? What batteries and chargers are safest?
Most batteries powering electric bikes, scooters, and hoverboards are lithium-ion batteries. You can often find the battery type listed on the battery case, in the instruction manual, or marked on your device by icons or symbols that note “Li-Ion” or “Li+.”
Only buy batteries and chargers that have been evaluated to normes de sécurité, such as UL 2849 or UL 2272, and that have been approved for use with your device by the manufacturer. This means that the battery has been designed and constructed according to rigorous safety requirements. Counterfeit and unapproved replacement batteries do not offer the same protections as those that conform to safety standards and pose a higher risk of thermal runaway. Follow all instructions and markings provided by the manufacturer to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury.
How should I charge an e-bike battery?
Lorsque vous rechargez votre scooter électrique, votre vélo électrique ou votre hoverboard :
of e-bike owners admit to leaving devices plugged in after reaching full charge
- Suivez toujours les instructions du fabricant lorsque vous chargez les batteries
- N'utilisez que le chargeur fourni ou recommandé par le fabricant - évitez les chargeurs de contrefaçon.
- Ne chargez jamais votre appareil à proximité d'une sortie, car il pourrait bloquer votre évacuation en cas d'incendie.
- Do not overcharge batteries. In a recent survey by UL Standards & Engagement, more than half (55%) of e-bike owners admit to leaving devices plugged in after reaching full charge
- Ne laissez jamais les piles sans surveillance lorsqu'elles sont en charge et ne les chargez pas pendant la nuit pendant que vous dormez.
- Ne pas charger les piles à des températures extrêmement chaudes ou froides.
- Recharger les batteries avant qu'elles ne soient complètement déchargées
Can e-bike or e-scooter batteries catch fire even when not charging?
E-bike or e-scooter batteries can catch fire even when they are not charging if they have sustained damage that would cause them to enter thermal runaway which can lead to a fire. A thermal runaway incident can take place hours or even days after an e-bike has sustained damage or been exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures. If an e-bike has been in an accident or fall, owners should take extreme caution.
Les propriétaires de vélos électriques, d'hoverboards et de trottinettes doivent toujours examiner les batteries pour vérifier qu'elles ne présentent pas de dommages physiques tels que des perforations ou des bosses, des fuites, des gonflements ou d'autres signes d'emballement thermique, notamment une batterie extrêmement chaude au toucher, des odeurs inhabituelles, des batteries fumantes ou des bruits de sifflement ou d'éclatement. Si un appareil est garé à l'extérieur et sans surveillance, il peut être endommagé à l'insu de son propriétaire.
Can you place an electric scooter or e-bike near a heater?
Electric scooters or e-bikes should not be stored or charged near heat sources, direct sunlight, or in areas that exceed manufacturer-specified temperature limits, as extreme temperatures can cause lithium-ion batteries to overheat and increase the risk of a battery fire.
