Electric bike owners are being encouraged to take extra care when charging their lithium ion batteries after multiple fires caused several tragic deaths in Vancouver.
Fire chiefs from across the Tri-Cities say they are paying close attention to the issue after Vancouver firefighters issued a warning about lithium ion batteries, in the wake of a fatal fire at a single room occupancy (SRO) hotel on the city’s Downtown Eastside this month.
According to news reports, fires caused by lithium ion batteries have claimed five lives in Vancouver so far this year.
Coquitlam fire chief Jim Ogloff said there haven't been any blazes in the city due to problems with charging bike batteries.
However, a garage was badly damaged in May when a lithium ion flashlight battery caught on fire while it was charging.
"We don't have the same level of e-scooters and e-bikes from a retail standpoint," said Ogloff.
Monitor e-battery when charging
However, he said fire safety is a priority for the city and residents are encouraged to take extra care when charging batteries.
Port Coquitlam and Port Moody haven’t had any bike battery fires either, according to fire chiefs in those cities.
However, in North Vancouver, firefighters were recently called to a bike battery fire, which caused a lot of smoke damage to a basement.
The fire may offer a lesson for other e-bike owners, said North Vancouver assistant fire chief Scott Ferguson.
"I would say that probably the biggest one is to unplug things after they're fully charged, rather than just leaving them plugged in 24/7 because they do generate a lot of heat, which of course can then damage the battery itself, melt it or even get it smoking and a fire can start,” Ferguson told North Shore News, sister publication of the Tri-City News.
Owners are encouraged to take special care when charging their bikes, agrees George Krastev, founder and CEO of Voltbike Electric Inc. in Port Coquitlam.
Choose a reputable e-bike brand
However, Krastev said e-bike safety starts with purchasing a good quality bike with a name-brand battery such as LG, Samsung or Panasonic.
"A no-name brand I wouldn't recommend. If you get one of these three it guarantees you some kind of quality of the cells," Krastev said.
"If you open Craigslist [or] Facebook Marketplace, many sellers are selling out of their garage. That’s a risk because then there is no warranty, no guarantee about what's inside. You don’t know what can happen."
Buying from a reputable company ensures that the bike battery has been tested for safety.
Still, Krastev encourages bike owners to monitor the battery when charging, not to simply leave it to charge overnight and walk away.
Typically, it takes up to five hours to fully-charge an electric bike battery, he said.
"Obviously, if you see some discolouring you should stop charging immediately," Krastev said.
Other tips include:
- Choosing metal charges over plastic
- Ensuring the battery has been certified
- The UL 2849 certification is the highest industry standard for electrical safety systems on e-bikes
- Keep the charging cord away from hazards such pooled water or a car that could run over it
- Monitor the battery while charging and disconnect when charging is complete
- Maintain your electric bike to ensure that it is in good working order
