The fire department that dealt with the aftermath says it took approximately 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze
1 hour ago
Electric vehicles are all the rage but they come with a few drawbacks not typically seen on internal combustion vehicles. One electric bicycle owner now has personal experience with one of those problems, thermal runaway. The local fire department used a video of the incident to provide some useful reminders for all who own an e-bike.
As the transition to electric vehicles has taken the globe by storm e-bikes have become just one small piece of that change. Countless brands have popped up to fill the demand and most use lithium-ion batteries as their power source. For various reasons, some lithium-ion batteries can experience thermal runaway where they become too hot and ultimately explode.
In the case of this video, that scenario seems to have happened as a result of overcharging. Early in the short clip, we see the owner approaching the area where the battery is plugged in, then retreating only moments before what looks like fireworks go off. The room is quickly filled with smoke and sparks as the fire grows.
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More: E-Bike Fires Are Getting Out Of Control
This happened in the United Kingdom where reports suggest that roughly six battery-related fires happen each week. The West Midlands Fire Department responded to this particular fire and it took 30 minutes to extinguish according to the BBC. The department provided a number of helpful tips for electric bicycle owners including the admonition to never leave an item charging after it’s full.
That of course means not leaving an item on the charger when you’re away or asleep either. Manufacturers often include similar warnings as well as additional instructions with products like e-bikes. It’s tough to tell exactly what brand the one in the video though is. While it’s clearly a hardtail mountain bike of sorts, it doesn’t have any clear branding or features that make it stand out from the rest.
Notably, as countless brands have popped up to fill the demand for ebikes, not all are as rigorous about manufacturing standards. With that in mind, it’s worthwhile to consider reviews, long-term reliability, and brand stability before putting something that could potentially blow up between your legs or under your rear end.