As E-bikes rise in popularity, concerns over battery fires grow
Electric bikes, or e-bikes, have spiked in recent popularity, and with that popularity is a growing number of battery fires – some of them fatal.
E-bikes are causing fires right across the continent. Toronto’s Fire Department said there were twelves fires caused in the city last year from e-bike batteries. In Vancouver, there were ten fires caused by e-bike batteries with five fatalities.
“When the lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes are poorly made, overused, overcharged, or used with the wrong charger, they can cause fires and those fires can be very violent and difficult to put out,” Ben Preston with Consumer Reports.
In December 2021, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said a battery from an electric bike was the cause of a fatal apartment fire in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. One man died and two children had to cling to an exterior pipe to escape.
A year later, the FDNY attributed an astonishing 202 fires, 142 injuries, and six deaths to electric bike or electric scooter batteries.
With very little oversight, some third-party companies that make lower-quality e-bikes and batteries are finding loopholes to sell their products on e-commerce sites like Amazon. A quick Amazon search shows dozens of e-bikes under $800.
That’s thanks to a trade law unofficially known as the “Amazon loophole,” which allows items under $800 to dodge taxes and regulations that other products might have to go through.
Amazon tells Consumer Reports, “We continuously monitor the products sold in our store for product safety concerns and, when appropriate, remove a product from the store.”
“Because there’s a lack of oversight, it’s really up to the consumer to look after their own interests,” Preston said.
If you’re shopping for an e-bike, look for one with a battery that has a UL Certified label. Then, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage, and always use the power adapter and cord supplied by the manufacturer.
Don’t ever leave the battery charging overnight or while you’re not home. If you need a new battery, buy it from the same manufacturer as your e-bike.
If at any time the battery starts doing anything unusual, like making a hissing sound, or smells odd, you should unplug it immediately.
One other safety tip from Consumer Reports: Always keep batteries away from heat sources such as heaters and direct sunlight when you’re charging them, and make sure there’s no flammable material nearby.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.