Posted on 03/09/2023 6:23:45 PM PST by george76
Many of the fires start when people charge bikes overnight, allowing them to overheat
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The fires appear to be concentrated in New York City, where the number of blazes more than doubled last year to 216, according to the New York City Fire Department. Fires from e-bikes and other so-called micromobility devices such as electric scooters have injured 40 people and killed two this year, the fire department said.
“These are incredibly dangerous devices if they are unregulated or used improperly,” New York Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at a press conference in late February.
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Many e-bike fires start when people charge them overnight, allowing them to overheat. Left in hallways or near doors, the malfunctioning batteries cause fast-moving fires that can trap people inside their homes in minutes. Secondhand batteries or those that have been modified are particularly vulnerable. The chemical fires, which release harmful gases, burn so hot and so quickly they are extremely difficult to put out.
Last April, Mauricio Orozco plugged in an e-bike with a refurbished battery at his bike shop in Cutler Bay, Fla. After 1½ hours, it burst into flames, torching the shop. The blaze moved so rapidly that it disabled his security cameras within 20 seconds
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It’s really scary,” Mr. Orozco said about e-bikes’ fire hazards. “This is people’s homes that are going to get burnt.”
In late February, a lithium-ion battery caused a fire in the Bronx, injuring four people including one firefighter, according to the fire department. In January, 18 children were injured at a Queens daycare center from a blaze the fire department said was started by an e-bike battery.
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Battery fires remain a stubborn problem for devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets. As electric-vehicle sales surge, they are causing problems there too.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Imagine the legislative hysteria if they were gas powered scooters......
Why did I read that as F Lee Bailey Fires?
Easy solution for NY City - just OUTLAW bringing the batteries from E-Bikes indoors. Hard to see a downside.
How to destroy your enemy 101. Give them toys they take home that start large fires.
I am sure folks that steal e-bikes will be careful to obey any laws against charging them inside.
;-)
“I am sure folks that steal e-bikes will be careful to obey any laws against charging them inside.”
Don’t tell anyone, but my goal is to drive e-bikes out of the city, so that people can walk there again without getting mowed over by those things.
When you buy the cheapest possible batteries and chargers from china this is what happens.
I don’t know why anyone would expect something different.
At least Boeing puts their 787 batteries in a steel fireproof box
“”Easy solution.... - just OUTLAW””
Several New York buildings have banned e-bikes and scooters. Several European ferry companies have banned EVs. I suggest the ferries tow a large, flat barge where the EVs can park for their trip across the water. If fire(s) should break out, they can just disconnect the barge.
Crap Chinese batteries.
Lithium ...
Cheap crap e-bikes from China, blow up and start fires. Who’d a thunk!
A functioning Federal Government would recall and ban these things until the charging problems were fixed.
Most likely. I would suggest detaching the battery from the e-bike, and charging it up within a metal barrel with metal lid. I have owned an e-bike for about 5 years, and have had no problem charging the detached battery - made either in the USA or Japan.
I think in many cases, the battery is built into the bike, so you can’t just bring the battery in. Guessing, but water intrusion might be part of the problem.
I will confess to hating ebikes. They were a big factor in my getting away from cycling. For instance, on a challenging course someone on an ebike can just power up, and with hardly any effort pass almost everyone else.
I have seen this happen several times with terrible results, because the ebike rider has no connection to the regular riders and rear-ends them. They are not in sync with other riders and the ability to accelerate past other riders is a thrill - especially when you know you couldn’t do this without the e-bike.
If you are a rider, you know the concentration it takes to ride in a group, but e bike riders are not usually bike riders. They don’t know the protocol. A couple of weeks ago, had a guy on an ebike rapidly overtaking me. When I signaled and turned left, he locked it down and slid sideways and blew a tire. Nobody was hurt, but there needs to rules.
Riding around town like a moped? Perfect. Flying down a bike trail at 30? No.
Makes me think that driving rules would be the same as in Thailand where there’s tons of gas powered scooters… nonexistent. It’s a shame America is moving in that direction. We’ve gone from land yatchs to super subcompact cars to scooters and now to e-bikes in my lifetime. Now more and more people think it’s the good life to live in a tiny house. Why are so many people lowering their expectations? Size does matter. Ask any honest woman. 😂
because you have an active mind lol
too many batteries these days- batteries for cars, tablets, laptops, cell phones, ear buds, power tools, lawn mowers, weed whackers- etc etc etc- and now tons more batteries being made for electric vehicles-
Hard to see a downside.
Theft.
“Many e-bike fires start when people charge them overnight, allowing them to overheat.”
Why wouldn’t the battery have a thermal switch that would stop charging on an overheat? That sounds like a simple and cheap solution.
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