This video cannot be viewed. and not left unattended.
The West Midlands Fire Service has warned that people must always charge devices safely and never leave them alone.
A charity has called for batteries for e-bikes to be regulated with the same degree of stringent control as fireworks, heavy machinery, or medical devices due to the risk of fire they present.
In June, a fire which was attributed to an e-bike battery resulted in the death of a woman and two children.
Manufacturers are presently allowed to assert for themselves that the batteries of e-bikes and e-scooters meet safety standards.
According to campaigners Electrical Safety First, third-party approval should be required for these batteries before they are sold.
Cambridgeshire Fire Service has declared the bike the "most likely source" of the deadly fire which took place in June, and is presently scrutinizing the e-bike which was left plugged in within the apartment.
The London Fire Brigade reported that, on average, they have been called to an incident involving these batteries once every two days in 2023.
Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First, remarked that the considerable energy which is discharged when a battery ignites is extraordinary in comparison to other fires.
She stated that the destruction of a room could occur quickly, within a few minutes.
This particular variety of fire necessitates specific methods to address the growing issue.
Ms Rudd is of the opinion that the UK should introduce legislation similar to what was implemented in New York City in March of 2023.
Legislation which has been signed into law by the US city mandates that e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries must comply with standards set by a third party specialized in battery technology.
Ms Rudd declared that prompt attention was required with a view to avoiding further fatalities.
There is an excessive number of careless vendors in this industry, such as third-party dealers on web-based stores, who are endangering the safety of the public and causing reputational damage to accountable producers of these items.
The London Fire Brigade website states that, if damaged or malfunctioning, batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters have the potential to produce especially intense fires.
Lithium battery fires have the capability of spreading rapidly and can cause a significant fire in a very short amount of time.
Andrew Beaton of Lancaster reported that his family is dealing with potential losses of up to £50,000 due to a fire caused by an electric bike which damaged their house.
He declared that if it weren't for his son, they wouldn't be there.
He shouted after seeing the e-bike ablaze and dashed down the stairs; flinging open the front door, he tossed the bike out.
At that instant, all the batteries were ejected, going off like miniature bombs.
Despite taking out the e-bike from the dwelling, he mentioned that the flames had already extended to the staircase.
He implored people to not purchase these e-bikes, cautioning that they were not worth risking one's life.
Commenting on the worrying increase in fires involving lithium iron batteries used by e-bikes, Neil Odin, the prevention lead for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), expressed concern.
He noted that these issues are of particular worry when they take place in residences, due to the incorrect charging or utilization of items such as e-bikes or e-scooters.
We need to be more aware of the dangers, and carefully review the criteria connected to these items. don't be plugging in your cell phones and other electronic devices all the time.
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) advises against charging one's device's battery overnight. Additionally, it cautions against constantly connecting electronic devices to an outlet.
Neil Odin informed the British Broadcasting Corporation that fire services countrywide had witnessed a "concerning rise in occurrences connected to lithium ion batteries" such as those of e-bikes and e-scooters.
He declared that it is crucial to take a very careful look at the regulations related to these goods and to have a better understanding of the hazards involved.
Apart from taking control of the purchase of the batteries, Electrical Safety First declared that the security of e-bikes could be enhanced if policy mandated the battery to be situated in another way, so it was shielded to a greater extent from harm.
The report suggested that by mandatorily raising the foot plate by 15 centimetres, the risk of harm caused to batteries from the ground or water could be significantly reduced.
A new report issued by the charity today advocates for a variety of measures. These include:
The BA, the trade association for the UK cycle industry, stated that they would fully back regulation in response to the revealing of the report.
The BA voiced its approval of the views on regulation of online marketplaces, which fire services have declared as the source of numerous undesirable goods.
The trade organization expressed its eagerness to collaborate with ESF on potential regulation plans.
James Metcalfe, the founder of the e-bike company Volt, informed the BBC that the World Wide Web was inundated with low-quality batteries and that "customers have to be made aware that inexpensive imported batteries can be incredibly risky".
He stated that firms like Volt already had strong quality standards and expressed enthusiasm for any measures that would safeguard the consumer.
The BBC has requested a statement from the government.
Comentários