Fire warning over e-bikes charging

Cambs Fire and Rescue Station Commander Gareth Boyd provides some tips for reducing the risk of fire in relation to e-bikes and e-scooters.

Transcript

00:00 E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming a more common mode of transport in everyday use,

00:04 especially when bought from a reputable dealer, they can be safe mode of transport.

00:10 Please follow our safety tips on safe charging in the home.

00:13 So here we have two purpose-built e-bikes. One is an e-mountain bike, it's mid-drive

00:20 at the pedals and the battery is stored in the frame. We've got a step-through city bike,

00:28 which is a drum drive on the rear wheel and it's got a cassette battery that slides in

00:34 underneath this pannier bag. These are made by reputable companies. If you want to do a

00:40 conversion on your own bike, make sure that you buy a kit from a reputable company and make sure

00:46 that it's got all electrical safety marks on it. Make sure you inspect your batteries on your

00:52 e-bikes and scooters regularly, checking for signs of damage, whether it be from impact or heat.

00:57 On the batteries, there should be a power indicator. As you can see, this one is dead.

01:03 I'll be replacing it with a brand new one. There are people online that say they can repair them.

01:10 However, they're doing it as a hobby. They're not licensed to do this and it often comes in

01:18 more expensive to have someone repair with inferior goods than if you buy from a reputable

01:24 dealer. Things to look out for in your batteries and chargers. Look for the CE mark so it's

01:29 compliant with electrical safety. Make sure the plug is fused. That's cheap imports, don't have

01:36 a fuse and have got a risk of fire hazard. Also, do not recycle symbol. This indicates that you

01:45 should take it to a local recycling center instead of putting it in your household bins.

01:50 When charging your e-bike battery, keep it away from exit routes and don't charge it overnight

01:56 when you be sleeping. Always make sure that you're awake and alert when you're charging it

02:00 and keep it away from flammable materials. When charging your e-bike batteries, make sure you do

02:05 this in a well-ventilated area away from exit routes. Make sure you use genuine chargers and

02:10 batteries. Make sure you don't overcharge them. Most genuine parts will have indicator lights to

02:19 show how much charge is in the battery. When it's full, unplug and turn off. This will prevent any

02:27 risk for fire. If you're not going to use the battery, make sure you only charge to approximately

02:32 75%. Please follow our safety tips when charging your e-bikes and e-scooters in your home. Also,

02:39 make sure that you've got at least one working smoke alarm and we hope you get many hours of

02:44 enjoyment from your bikes and scooters.