This article is about e-Bike and e-Scooter battery fires in strata on the increase.
By-laws that regulate e-Bikes and e-Scooters
e-Bike and e-Scooter lithium-ion batteries have sparked a series of fires in strata apartment buildings and, based on the following statistics, pose a major threat as they continue to rise.
Between January 1 and September 15, 2023, Fire and Rescue NSW reported 149 battery-related incidents – a 16 per cent increase on the same time last year.
Of these incidents, 22 per cent involved e-mobility devices — a 94 per cent increase on the same period the previous year.
All strata buildings should, before it’s too late, put in place by-laws to regulate the storage and charging of e-scooters and e-bikes to help prevent fires from lithium-ion batteries.
Adrian Mueller
JS Mueller & Co Lawyers
E: adrianmueller@muellers.com.au
P: 02 9562 1266
This post appears in Strata News #679.
You can read the full report from ACCC here: Lithium-ion batteries and consumer product safety.
If you have a question or something to add to the article, please leave a comment below.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is provided for your personal information only. It is not meant to be legal or professional advice nor should it be used as a substitute for such advice. You should seek legal advice for your specific circumstances before relying on any information herein. Contact JS Mueller & Co for any required legal assistance.
JS Mueller & Co Lawyers has been servicing the strata industry across metropolitan and regional NSW for over 40 years. We are a specialist firm of strata lawyers with in depth and unmatched experience in, and comprehensive knowledge of strata law and levy collection.
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This article has been republished with permission from the author and first appeared on the JS Mueller & Co Lawyers website.
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Can we put things into perspective. Based on Adrian Meuller’s article above, that says there were 149 battery related “incidents” in nine months in 2023, there would probably have been about 200 for the year . Of these 22% were e-mobility devices and despite a dramatic increase of 92% it is total of only 44. There are about 6,500 domestic fire “incidents” in NSW each year. So 0.7% of domestic fires are caused by electric scooters or bikes – no need for fear or higher insurance premiums.
Hi Miles,
As outlined by Emma Sutcliffe from EV FireSafe in a recent OCN webinar on lithium-ion batteries in strata buildings, Australia is currently seeing at least one ebike or escooter fire each week. Larger cities like New York and London are seeing at least one per day. You can watch the recording in full here: Lithium-ion Batteries in Strata
Good luck enforcing such by laws. By that I mean that charging of ebike batteries occurs behind closed doors. It doesn’t affect anybody till there is a fire. And then its too late. The by laws is ineffectual.
Where do residents then store the batteries? The OC would need to provide a storage place that they deemed safe. But it requires everyone to comply. Again, people will sneak their batteries into their apartments and charge them.
Until the government strictly enforces the importation of untested emobility vehicles, their batteries and chargers, the problem will remain.
I do consider that lithium battery fires are a serious issue.