Posted on Mar 7, 2023
Fires sparked by lithium batteries are confounding firefighters
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The problem is especially evident in New York City, where on Sunday an e-bike battery sparked an hourslong blaze at a Bronx grocery store that injured seven.
It’s the latest in a string of fires started by the lithium-ion batteries in electric bikes and scooters. They’ve caused at least 30 fires, 40 injuries, and two deaths in NYC this year as of Feb. 27, according to the New York Fire Department.
Last year, they ignited 216 fires—double the amount of the year before—resulting in 147 injuries and six deaths.
Lithium-ion batteries were the fourth leading cause of fire deaths in NYC last year, per the FDNY.
It’s the latest in a string of fires started by the lithium-ion batteries in electric bikes and scooters. They’ve caused at least 30 fires, 40 injuries, and two deaths in NYC this year as of Feb. 27, according to the New York Fire Department.
Last year, they ignited 216 fires—double the amount of the year before—resulting in 147 injuries and six deaths.
Lithium-ion batteries were the fourth leading cause of fire deaths in NYC last year, per the FDNY.
Fires sparked by lithium batteries are confounding firefighters
Posted from nbcnews.comPosted in these groups: 
New York City Fire Department (FDNY)New York
Fire Fighter
Transportation
Bicycles
New York City Fire Department (FDNY)New York Fire Fighter Transportation Bicycles
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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This is not a good thing for the manufacturers of these electric bikes... Perhaps the lithium-ion batteries are not the right type of battery for this application... It looks to me like there was insufficient testing to make sure that the Bikes would or could not ignite a fire in this e-bike scenario... or, maybe some of these bikes are being modified and do not comply with the original standards of safety... I wonder if anyone is looking at that possibility!
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Maj Robert Thornton
There have been a number of electrical fires as well. Maybe there should be a rethink on these batteries!
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Between that and also many fires in Electric Vehicles the batteries being the risk It is already keeping Fire Departments busy and drawing them away from other emergencies. Even in our local are electric vehicles that were only parked not being used in their driveway burned due to it raining. It took 4 to 5 hours to put the fires out which it seems in news We are NOT getting even though the Fire Departments reported it. Let alone the range is limited and in cold weather gets even worse for example a car that needed a charge at 215 miles in sub zero temps only made 150 miles before needing a charge. Don't plan on any long trips and pray it doesn't rain or snow and lose the electric car or bike completely ! The cost may be a lot more than the purchase price, it may be the vehicle or even Your life let alone wasted time of charging the system ! Don't plan any long trips unless You have a LOT of time for recharges and pray it doesn't burn.
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And that's in one city. Our "free community e-bikes" here just disappear before the batteries have time to heat up.
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