Guilty as charged?
Lithium-ion batteries power the devices we love, but pose an increasing fire threat. Should multifamily buildings ban e-bikes and e-scooters? Education on proper use crucial for public safety.
As e-bikes, scooters, and hoverboards powered by lithium ion batteries become increasingly popular, fires resulting from their improper use, charging, and storage are also on the rise.
The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services does not specifically track fires related to lithium ion batteries, but spokesman Jake Wark said blazes related to batteries in general are increasing in the state.
Fires related to lithium ion batteries are also on the rise nationwide, experts interviewed for this story said.
‘They burn extremely hot’
What makes these batteries so useful is also what makes them dangerous.
“They store a lot of power in a small package,” Wark told the Globe via e-mail. “When they burn, they burn extremely hot, release toxic gases, and can reignite even after the fire has been extinguished.”
Lithium ion batteries come in several sizes and are used in many rechargeable devices. From mobile phones, notebook computers, and wireless headphones to electric cars and e-scooters.
What happens when you have a condo or apartment building with several e-bikes and e-scooters?
Mark S. Einhorn, a condo association lawyer with Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, said the rules regulating them are very site specific, legally challenging, and difficult to enforce.
“People want these bikes,” said Einhorn, who credits his own with “making biking fun again.” “I’m hoping the technology catches up soon. Maybe there will be a timer or automatic shutoff on the chargers. I find it difficult to draft rules that would allow their use safely . ... It’s probably safer and less liability just to do a blanket prohibition on them for now.”
He said it’s within a condo association’s authority to regulate the use of common areas for safety reasons. They can even pass rules prohibiting the charging of e-mobility devices in individual units, he said, but those rules are essentially impossible to police.
A warning from New York City
Boston would be wise to learn from New York. There were more than 200 lithium ion battery fires in New York City in 2022, according to a March 20 press release from Mayor Eric Adams.
“These are convenient transportation options for New Yorkers, but faulty and illegal devices are making their way into our homes and streets, causing fires and putting lives at risk,” Adams said. “Through promoting safe devices, expanding education, increasing enforcement on high-risk situations, and pursuing additional regulation, I’m proud that New York City is leading that charge.”
Paul Rogers, a retired New York City firefighter and hazardous materials specialist who is CEO and cofounder of Energy Safety Response Group, a firm focused on the safe storage of such devices, said he has large industrial clients with huge lithium ion battery arrays, but
those are heavily regulated with stringent safety regulations and maintained and operated by professionals. The smaller batteries in e-mobility devices are less regulated and operated by consumers, often with little understanding of the risks, he said, and the fires they start when they do fail present unique challenges to firefighters.
“One of the challenges that we see from a firefighting point of view is the speed with which they fail,” Rogers said. “They fail rapidly. The energy being released is so much quicker than the other combustible household items.”
Nick Petrakis, a consultant with Energy Safety and a retired New York Fire Department Fire prevention specialist, helped write several city codes, including ones on the safe charging and storage of these devices (Section FC 309).
He said a close friend recently bought an e-bike for his daily commute. Petrakis went to his house, inspected his setup, and informed him about the safety concerns, but he isn’t particularly worried about it.
How to use them safely
The devices can be used safely if you follow a few important rules, including these offered by Wark and the city of New York:
■ Purchase devices and batteries listed by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL).
■ Consumers should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the charging equipment supplied with the device, not generic chargers.
■ Because the batteries in mobility devices like e-bikes are subject to damage from crashes and normal use, you should hire only a qualified professional to repair or replace them immediately. “If you notice changes to the battery or the device, including damage, an unusual odor, a change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking, smoking, or not keeping a charge, stop using it and take it to a qualified professional for repair,” Wark wrote. “If and when it’s time to dispose of the battery, don’t put it in the trash. They should be recycled, and you can find a location to take them at https://www.call2recycle.org/locator/.”
■ Plug them directly into a wall electrical outlet for charging, not a power strip or an overloaded outlet.
■ Keep batteries and devices at room temperature.
■ Charge away from anything flammable, so far from pillows, beds, and couches.
■ Keep devices and batteries away from heat sources.
■ Never overcharge a battery or leave one charging overnight.
■ Never leave them unattended while they are charging.
■ Never block your primary means of escape from a room.
“From an engineering point of view, I believe in mitigating the hazard as much as you possibly can,” Petrakis said. “It’s very difficult for any hazard to be eliminated to absolute zero, but you do your best to make things as safe as possible.”