E-bike battery fires this year have killed more in NYC than in 2022: FDNY
Lithium-ion batteries from e-bikes and similar devices have fueled 92 fires, injured 64 people, and caused nine deaths so far this year – almost as many as the 10 fatalities in 2022 and 2021 combined, FDNY data show.
Four people perished last month, when a May 7 blaze tore through an Upper Manhattan apartment building.
Even well engineered and manufactured E-batteries can blow after any common road accident. I’ve wiped out on my regular bike several times over the years, but I didn’t have to worry that night about parking it on the porch.
With a lithium battery all the layers between the cells are thin and closely packed and how would you know if there was internal damage?
It’s common practice to replace your bike helmet after a single spill where you went down hard, but not the bike’s battery?
I know that not every minor bike accident is going to result in the battery catching fire or blowing up, but how do you know that ‘this time’ it’s safe?
Maybe once in every thousand batteries there will be a fire or explosion so imagine I have a jar with one thousand jelly beans, one jelly bean is poisonous and will kill you; how many jelly beans would you like?
On the North River 
I love jelly beans. It’s the high fructose corn syrup…so I guess they’re all poisoned.
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Wise Ass.
My father had diabetes, so I’ve avoided sugar most of my life. But it was just an analogy. The problems with ebike batteries has kept me from buying one. Lost one house to a fire, done with that. Rather not lose the garage either.
All I can think of is to get a small shed away from both and keep the ebike in that. Adds to the expense.
ps Would it make you smile to know that the temperature outside at 5pm is about 49 degrees?
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Of course I know it was an analogy, and a good one, too. But I still like jelly beans; Ronald Reagan is responsible for that.
Down here e-bikes can be rented, so if I get the urge that’s what I’ll do. Meantime, I’ll just ride the old-fashioned one that I have chained to the bike rack.
And, yes, it does make me smile to see 49 degrees up that-a-way. But to be truthful, it gets too hot here pretty soon. Heading north for at least the month of July.
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Random fire is a problem with ALL lithium batteries using current manufacturing technology. Batteries in cars and bikes that are subject to constant motion are at far greater risk than static batteries. It’s simply the nature of the engineering. To make lithium batteries safe would require a complete redesign of how they are made. And there is no guarantee that is possible. My daughter used to vape…till the lithium battery in her vape pen exploded in her hand. Vape pens get bounced around a lot, sat on in pockets and carried in purses, subject to constant abuse. It’s surprising that more of them don’t kaboom. Lithium batteries are useful…but dangerous. Only time will tell if they can be made safer. Don’t count on it.
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