Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished an e-bike battery fire before it could take hold and harm residents or property overnight at Guildford in Sydney’s west.
The owner, who had only obtained the second-hand e-bike the day before, placed the battery into the bike shortly after 2.00 am this morning, noticing a small spark soon after.
As a precaution, the owner removed the battery from the e-bike and threw it into an outside courtyard.
Battery catches fire
The battery then caught fire, producing violent explosions and scattering battery cells and other debris around the yard.
Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze and placed the battery in a tub of water to prevent it from reigniting. No one was injured in the incident.
FRNSW Advice to E-vehicle owners
Fire and Rescue NSW advises the owners of micromobility devices such as e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards to adhere to safe charging practices including:
- Don’t leave devices charging in bedrooms or on beds, sofas or around highly flammable materials
- Try to charge devices outside if possible
- Always buy reputable lithium-ion battery brands and never ‘mix and match’ components
- Beware of cheap, substandard lithium-ion battery-powered devices
- Avoid dropping, crushing, or piercing battery cells
- If lithium-ion batteries are damaged or compromised, dispose of them properly
- Don’t throw them out in the rubbish, they can start garbage truck or rubbish tip fires when compacted
- Contact the local, approved recycling centre for disposal advice
- Store batteries and devices in a cool, dry area, away from combustible materials
- Install active smoke alarms in the home/garage
- Ensure to have a home evacuation plan in the event of fire
