E-Bike Battery Safety: Tips for Avoiding Fires and Accidents

[@brett19890]

Glad you covered this, especially with the avoidable fire accidents that keep happening in New York due to poor lithium battery management.

[@TimsElectric]

Cheers Brett, it doesn't help that the mainstream media blows it up...they don't cover car fires the same way How many cars catch fire per year in the US? In 2021, there were around 174,000 highway vehicle fires reported in the United States.

[@tenza7545]

One safety tip I'll add on storing your battery in your house. Say over winter don't bary it in a closet. You want to store it somewhere that you can grap it open a door or window and throw it. In less then 8 seconds.

[@TimsElectric]

I use a burn bag and leave it in the hallway :) just to be extra safe :)

[@johnw65]

After surviving my 4/22/23 neck breaking crash caused by a forgotten kickstand, I've noticed my battery only charges to 3 bars... Is this from battery damage and is this battery a possible fire hazard in your opinion? If so, any possible solution suggestions?

[@TimsElectric]

omg @johnw65, so sorry to hear of your injury...that sounds awful :( As to the battery, I don't know...you're right it could be or maybe something simple like if it was left off for a long time in the cold...I would reach out to the manufacturer or take it to a repair shop for it to be checked out ...best to be safe :)

[@johnw65]

Thanks@@TimsElectric, I filled out the 'contact' form at G-Force yesterday. Maybe a few days before their reply. They prolly wanna sell me a new $590 battery... My T42 was only $849 new! Your Video is quite helpful. 45 to 85 degrees, eh? After getting my wife an EUY AULOOR, it lives in my Scion XD with my T42 and the batteries are in the floor of the living room. I noticed your Firesak and my LIPO battery case gets here today. $20 2K degree case is cheaper than catastrophes...

[@TimsElectric]

indeed better safe is my thought :) @@johnw65 and the firesacks are sold by Ginger on Wheels...he's a good egg :)

[@TonesAdventuresHD]

good tips Tim! Nice bag as well!

[@TimsElectric]

Thanks! 👍Ginger did a good job in it :) I agree :)

[@lanceopia]

Hi Tim, how about a video for scooters

[@TimsElectric]

Coming soon...I wanted to shoot this one first :) ) and if you have any pro-tips for scooters do share them with me :)

[@michaelveronneau698]

@@TimsElectric Lots of similarity between e-bikes and scooters...both predominantly rely on lithium-ion technology. Manufacturer defects/poor quality materials and battery damage (dropping/physical damage, improper charging, heat exposure, or poor storage) are the two major areas of vulnerability. I guess one major difference is e-bikes tend to have easily removable batteries...scooters less often. Scooters fold up compactly and I can see a scooter being left in a vehicle during the summer...whereas a bike is locked on a bike rack, with its battery removed for security/theft avoidance... so maybe scooters are at slightly higher risk..?? The elephant in the room is that we are often highly influenced by cost. Tim you make the point that battery pak is a major cost factor in a bike, so there is a lot of pressure on a vendor to find cost savings...which loops back to where poorer quality materials may be used in a battery, and so the risk is higher of a failure due to that... GInger on Wheels does a demo where he breaks open a battery, with dramatic consequences, to show the performance of the FireSak safety bags... wow...that is impressive..!! I had a look at the bags they offer, but the smallest is a bit too big for my needs, so went with another brand. I'll sleep better when the bag arrives and the battery is stored in it...

[@TimsElectric]

@@michaelveronneau698 thanks so much Michael :) :) succinct and clear :)

[@cometcal2]

good advice

[@TimsElectric]

Glad it was helpful!