A large amount of focus has been given to the fire safety risk presented by EVs. However, the increase in fires caused by low cost E-scooters & E-Bikes (like the supermarket fire below) are proving far more prevalent.
“The problem lies with manufacturing defects”
Research Professor, K.M. Abraham from Northeastern University made the above observation last year, pointing out that “Every day we are using billions of these batteries [lithium-ion] in our devices, our cell phones, our laptops, etc., but they don’t explode because they are manufactured to very high specifications and precision.”
Do we need to regulate how e-bikes & e-scooters are stored and charged? Or does there need to be greater oversight on the importation/manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries?
While this is debated, what is being done at a Facilities Management level to mitigate the risk of fire in existing buildings? Are Management In Use Plans adequately addressing this risk? Given e-bikes & e-scooters are often locked up outside the entry to buildings, does this need to change?
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