In a terrifying incident captured on video, an e-bike exploded and burst into flames in Adelaide as the rider attempted to mount it in a car park, News.com.au reports. Fortunately, the man only sustained minor injuries.
According to a witness who recorded the incident, the homemade battery on the e-bike failed, causing bright orange flames to spread across the bike in seconds.
Watch the video here from 9 News Australia:
The witness compared it to fireworks and stated that it was very smokey, adding that no one wanted to go near it because it was like a grenade shooting everywhere.
Exploded E-bike Battery Found to be Homemade
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has released a startling report highlighting the devastating impacts of using battery-powered products such as e-bikes, scooters, and hoverboards. In 2022 alone, at least 19 people lost their lives due to fires or overheating incidents caused by these electric vehicles in the US.
While many may initially assume that the recent e-bike explosion in Australia was caused by a faulty vehicle, further investigation has revealed a different story. It turns out that the man himself engineered the battery at home, which ultimately led to the explosion.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in Adelaide. News.com.au tells us that just last year, an e-bike battery caught fire inside a family home, causing an estimated $200,000 in damages.
These incidents are a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can arise when individuals attempt to modify or engineer batteries without proper training or expertise.
E-Bike Owners Cautioned to Follow Maintenance Instructions
According to Craig Attard, a Metropolitan Fire Service station officer, these incidents usually involve overcharging batteries, using non-compliant or non-compatible batteries and charging equipment, or building batteries at home.
He cautioned that making these homemade batteries could cost people their life or home. As a result, e-bike owners have been advised to purchase batteries only from reputable manufacturers and to carefully follow the charging and maintenance instructions.
Read Also : Uber Warns India's Electric-only Bike Taxis Plan Could Devastate Ride-hailing Sector, Population
Authorities have issued warnings about the dangers associated with e-bikes and e-scooters, which have caused serious injuries and even fatalities despite being cost-effective and convenient.
E-bike Battery Explosion Cases Recorded
The e-bike market is expected to generate around 53.5 billion US dollars in revenue by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 12.27 percent between 2022 and 2027, according to Statista.
This increase in the market is expected to be driven by rising environmental and health concerns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have already expressed an increasing interest in alternative modes of transportation.
Unfortunately, several people have been injured or killed when low-quality rideable devices powered by lithium-ion batteries exploded. The majority of these incidents happened while the vehicles were charging.
According to EV FireSafe, an organization that tracks electric vehicle battery fires, 97 people have been injured, and eight have been killed in 57 separate incidents worldwide since the beginning of the year, with thirteen of those incidents occurring in Australia and resulting in the same number of injuries.
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