Electric scooter battery charging is not something to take lightly, judging by recent events in New York and Singapore. Fire departments in both cities, and no doubt others too, report a sharp uptick in e-scooter fires. The most likely cause appears to be substandard lithium-ion batteries, and the probable solution is taking extra care.
Taking Extra Care When Charging Electric Scooter Batteries
If you ride an electric scooter, you might do well to take this advice seriously. That’s because reports of electric scooter batteries catching fire, or exploding during recharging are definitely on the increase. The reason appears to be substandard batteries overheating, or short-circuiting because they don’t meet international safety standards.
We found an article in Reader’s Digest Australia that neatly sums up how to avoid finding yourself in a similar situation. But, before you read on, may we recommend you confirm your electric scooter and / or replacement batteries have safety certification.
Tip # 1 Find A Safe Place to Do Your Recharging
Recharge your batteries in a safe place, away from where people sleep, and without any combustible materials nearby. Make sure your e-scooter will not block any emergency or other exits if it catches fire, and after the battery has cooled down. It’s always best to charge a battery in a cool place, to reduce the possibility of it overheating.
Tip # 2 Never Overcharge Electric Scooter Batteries
If you allow a lithium battery to keep recharging, there’s a fair chance it will overheat, and that, as we know can be the beginning of a fire. Some lithium batteries still do not have overcharging protection. Your only safe workaround is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations carefully, and keep an eye on things throughout the time the battery is recharging.
Tip # 3 Be Careful With Used Lithium Ion Batteries
A used electric scooter battery may still have sufficient charge to start a fire, if it short circuits. A new one has an even better chance of doing so, which is why manufacturers ship them with insulated terminals. Make sure you seal the terminals with tape before you remove a used battery from an e-scooter, and hand it in for recycling as soon as you can.
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