‘Unexploded bombs’: call for action after 11 deaths in UK due to e-bike fires

Since last August we can look for CE markings again on batteries and chargers as a sign off safety conformance.
 
Regarding battery fires it is recommended by the fire services never leave anything on charge overnight.

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Guigsy said:
I think they're also recommending you turn the wireless off overnight to avoid overheating the tubes.
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Yup your right👍

Unplug appliances when you’re not using them or when you go to bed.

www.gov.uk

Fire safety in the home (accessible version)

www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

We also have fire and heat detectors through the home that are linked so if one goes off they all go off and we have a simple evacuation plan just in case.
 
Sadly the cheap kits and AliExpress are synonymous with the budget end of the market attractive to youngsters. I have seen some shockingly poor home conversions of old bikes for sale on facebook locally. It is only a question of time before enough people die to force proper regulations. Once one of the cheap batteries starts to burn, it is not being put out with a fire extinguisher or heaven forbid a bucket of water.
 
It's not only the risk of fire from whatever source....its where the initial combustion takes place....many of the scooter/bike fires happen where the bikes have been left on charge....a hallway for example, which may be the only entry/exit from an apartment or other buildings..therefore trapping the occupants..
This could also be an issue in our motorhomes, with only one means of escape...worth considering..
 
TheBig1 said:
Sadly the cheap kits and AliExpress are synonymous with the budget end of the market attractive to youngsters. I have seen some shockingly poor home conversions of old bikes for sale on facebook locally. It is only a question of time before enough people die to force proper regulations. Once one of the cheap batteries starts to burn, it is not being put out with a fire extinguisher or heaven forbid a bucket of water.
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The Regs already exist and can now be enforced again. The next problem is finding enough people to enforce them..

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Interestingly I had a puncture on my e-bike whilst in Germany. I took the bike in the car to the cycle shop ,which was 10 miles away, amd wheeled it through the shop door. I was abruptly told “No, No, out!” It turned out it was because the battery was still attached to the bike. The shop owner explained he was not insured to take in any bikes with the batteries still attached.

Sod’s Law- the key to remove the battery was back at the Campsite so had to drive back to get it- then back to the shop with “We shut at noon for lunch” ringing in my ears. Made it back, removed battery, leaving it outside on the doorstep and puncture fixed in 5 mins flat.
 
From the other part of my life, I know about flame and fire supressing bags in which you can charge lithium cells. Not cheap but good insurance if you are worried about charging an ebike battery in your motorhome

 
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ukfetchfan said:
Interestingly I had a puncture on my e-bike whilst in Germany. I took the bike in the car to the cycle shop ,which was 10 miles away, amd wheeled it through the shop door. I was abruptly told “No, No, out!” It turned out it was because the battery was still attached to the bike. The shop owner explained he was not insured to take in any bikes with the batteries still attached.

Sod’s Law- the key to remove the battery was back at the Campsite so had to drive back to get it- then back to the shop with “We shut at noon for lunch” ringing in my ears. Made it back, removed battery, leaving it outside on the doorstep and puncture fixed in 5 mins flat.
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Why didn't they take the wheel off outside 🤔🤔
 
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TheBig1 said:
From the other part of my life, I know about flame and fire supressing bags in which you can charge lithium cells. Not cheap but good insurance if you are worried about charging an ebike battery in your motorhome

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I always wondered how effective these actually are. Because it looks like a cooler bag. Lots of people rate it without actually being able to test it.

Those are for remote controlled gizmos. You'd need it to be quite a bit bigger and considerably more robust to cope with a bike battery. I'd think something like a metal ammo can would be more appropriate.
 
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Guigsy said:
I always wondered how effective these actually are. Because it looks like a cooler bag. Lots of people rate it without actually being able to test it.

Those are for remote controlled gizmos. You'd need it to be quite a bit bigger and considerably more robust to cope with a bike battery. I'd think something like a metal ammo can would be more appropriate.
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The largest of the remote control pack bags can hold about 10 packs. A similar size to some bike packs but check internal sizes. I agree some of the cheapest look more like cool bags but have witnessed them being tested and they contained the flames for sufficient time to be classed successful
 
A question, fast e-bikes appear to be commonplace in the home delivery fraternity. Are any of them insured, as far as I am aware E-bykes dont require insurance or number plates.

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buttons said:
A question, fast e-bikes appear to be commonplace in the home delivery fraternity. Are any of them insured, as far as I am aware E-bykes dont require insurance or number plates.
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legal fast ebikes (over 25 kph) do require insurance, number plates, helmets etc. The home delivery bikes that are being confiscated are not legal, they are normal ebikes that have been illegally modified to overcome the speed restriction.
 
dunnah01 said:
Since last August we can look for CE markings again on batteries and chargers as a sign off safety conformance.
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Since 1st Jan 2021.

It never went away.

It is just the transition that has kept being pushed back, and CE is now indefinitely recognised for most products.
 
dulvil said:
Most folks are looking at cheap lithium batteries for their motorhomes,
When they see the price do they look for any form of certification? Or is safety second to price
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Different technology.

LiFePO4 for leisure batteries is inherently safer.

Not perfect, but safer.
 
CAB96 said:
Since 1st Jan 2021.

It never went away.

It is just the transition that has kept being pushed back, and CE is now indefinitely recognised for most products.
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Yeah - the government binned off the UKCA marking for many things last August. They must have realised what a mammoth task it was and ultimately nobody really wanted it despite giving back control of how bendy our bananas are 😉
 
dunnah01 said:
back control of how bendy our bananas are
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Serioulsy I used to work as QA in bananas, and yes we measure the bend internal length, bend external length, the colour, the markings, temps and umpteen other things for brussels. :eek:

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Last edited:
dunnah01 said:
Yeah - the government binned off the UKCA marking for many things last August. They must have realised what a mammoth task it was and ultimately nobody really wanted it despite giving back control of how bendy our bananas are 😉
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Tombola said:
Well well, well, didnt know this, thought it was still a thing
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It's (UKCA) still in place,if a manufacturer so chooses.

If you listen to the civil servants, they will tell you that they want a robust Conformity Assessment regime.

While destroying the economic case for UKCA, and pulling the rug out from under all of the UK approved bodies, 'cos that's what business asked for.

Anyway, as Ben Elton would say, oooh, a little bit of politics, controversial!! I'd better say no more!
 
A tesla going up in flames is really spectacular, ive seen 3 electric cars go boom 2 were teslas one was MG very difficult to put out too, In Norway the emergency service have a special armoured truck with a HIAB to lift the burning car into a tank of water and a massive 60mm armoured door seals it and it is taken away to a special dump , sometimes the batteries burn for days .
 
dunnah01 said:
Yeah - the government binned off the UKCA marking for many things last August. They must have realised what a mammoth task it was and ultimately nobody really wanted it despite giving back control of how bendy our bananas are 😉
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That was such a pain and unbelievable cost to business. If a business wanted to sell to the EU and U.K. markets both marking had to be on the goods just so pointless
 
Coolcats said:
That was such a pain and unbelievable cost to business. If a business wanted to sell to the EU and U.K. markets both marking had to be on the goods just so pointless
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Somehow the details if Divergence got lost in the 'debate'

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