Two people died after an e-bike battery exploded in a New York apartment on Aug. 3. As e-bikes become more popular, the problem is growing.
A 5-year-old girl and a 36-year-old woman died Wednesday from an apartment fire ignited by an exploding e-bike battery, the New York City Fire Department said.
Another person — the girl’s father — was left in serious condition, and a firefighter was also taken to the hospital, CBS News reported. The e-bike’s battery started the fire right outside the Harlem apartment’s front door, blocking the family of three from escaping, CBS reported.
FDNY told GearJunkie Friday that its incident report was still in progress, and it could make no further details available. However, experts point to aging or damaged batteries and charging devices as the most likely cause.
It’s not the first time that exploding e-bike batteries have caused deadly fires. In December 2021, another Manhattan tenant died from a fire caused by an e-bike battery. Now, the New York City Housing Association is considering a ban on “the volatile lithium-ion batteries that power e-bikes, scooters, and hoverboards,” The City reported.
A Growing Problem
As the popularity of e-bikes soared over the last few years, so have the reports of fires and injuries caused by their batteries. In Maryland in 2018, two lithium-ion battery terminals made contact, sparking a two-alarm fire that consumed a single-family home. While no one was harmed, it took 60 firefighters to contain the blaze.
E-bike batteries have caused multiple fires in Vancouver over the last 6 months, The Tyee reported in June.
The same problem has been growing in London. By June 2022, the city’s fire brigade had already seen 32 fires involving e-bikes, Cycling Weekly reported. Officials reported another 17 incidents this year involving other lithium-ion batteries, the article said.
Improper manufacturing of lithium batteries may also contribute to the problem, according to a safety report from the University of Washington. Poorly made batteries may have contaminants that make explosions more likely, the report said.
If you own an e-bike, consider following the report’s suggestions for staying safe. Tips include storing batteries away from combustible materials, purchasing batteries from a reputable manufacturer or supplier, and keeping one-time-use batteries away from rechargeable ones.
