Drop your phone and the main worry is a cracked screen and the prospect of reading your messages through a web of damage for the rest of your life.
But there is also a small risk of damaging the battery, turning the smartphone into a mini fireball.
In 2016, Samsung recalled its flagship Galaxy Note 7 due to faulty batteries. which may explode or catch fire.
Since then, stringent quality controls by brands seeking to maintain their reputation have resulted in fires occurring extremely rarely.
But now, consumers are facing increasing risk from off-brand, cheap Chinese-made scooters.
In the first three months of 2023 alone, fires caused by battery-powered scooters and bicycles have killed four people in the UK, according to the charity Electrical Safety First.
Damage to the batteries results in rapid heating, called a thermal runaway, setting the rest of the flock on fire. Combustible gases can be released, accelerating the spread of fire in a home where scooters are often stored.
The charity said the devices would need to be more regulated and assessed by safety authorities before being put up for sale, mimicking New York regulations.
2807 Explosive Batteries
Leslie Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, says: “The sheer amount of energy that is released over time when a battery ignites is unlike any other fire—in a matter of minutes, a room can be destroyed. This unique type of fire requires special measures to address a growing problem.
“We need to address this problem now to prevent more lives from being lost. There are too many reckless operators in this space, such as third-party sellers in online marketplaces, who are risking the lives of the population and ruining the reputation of the responsible manufacturers of these products.”
Today, vehicles can be claimed by the manufacturer as meeting safety standards. To classify them in the same category as fireworks and heavy machinery would require a third party to agree that they are safe.
Rebecca Downes, 44, a mother of four, died last year jumping out of the third. window on the floor to avoid house fire caused by e-scooter fire caused by e-scooter battery.
Andrew Beaton said an electric scooter at his home in Lancaster, which was being charged, caught fire and caused £50,000 in damage. His son noticed the fire and raised the alarm.
“If it wasn’t for my son, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Scooter fires are burning. growth on a global scale.
A study by EV Firesafe, a research firm funded by the Australian Department of Defense, shows that there have been 44 battery fires in electric vehicles worldwide in the past year, resulting in four deaths. But e-bikes and scooters have caused 500 fires, 138 injuries and 36 deaths.
A charging e-scooter exploded, caught fire and caused a massive explosion in a house in northwest London. Photo: London Fire Brigade/PA. world.
“With regard to lithium-ion battery fires, the main risk to life and property safety is light electric vehicles, including electric bicycles, scooters, skateboards, unicycles, etc. hoverboards, not cars, the report said.
The London Fire Brigade describes battery fires as the capital's fastest emerging fire risk. More than 60 fires have been extinguished this year. Some companies have responded and electric scooters are now banned on most trains.
Proponents say it's a cheap and eco-friendly way to travel if safe models are bought rather than abused or modified.
But the influx of models from the Far East, mostly China, bought cheaply on the net, are catching fire. when the batteries are damaged or overcharged.
Clear signs of a problem are an overheated or swollen battery, obvious signs of collision damage, water damage, or a strange smell.
Paul Christensen, Newcastle University professor and lithium safety consultant, says buyers of e-bikes and scooters should follow a few simple rules.
He says consumers should only buy from a reputable manufacturer, only use a charger that is included, and always buy a scooter that comes with a charger that automatically turns off when fully charged.
Avoid charging indoors and never get close to flammable items.
Scooters are becoming the preferred mode of transportation for many, despite the risks . Photo: Zoran Zeremski/iStockphoto
Christensen says: “Your problem is that the time between the first sign of something and an explosion or a major fire can be seconds.
“I'm not trying to demonize them. I'm a big fan – they're essential for renewable energy storage. But they store a very large amount of energy in a very small space.”
Besides the quality of the battery, the big difference between a well-made device and a fire trap is the battery management system, which will stop the battery from charging when it is fully charged. Overcharging is a common cause of fires.
Smartphones are complex, just like electric cars. Cheap e-bikes may not have it at all.
One of the most dangerous fire hazards are homemade battery packs made by couriers who use e-bikes for work and want to increase their range, so make a spare battery yourself, Christensen says.
“In many cases, residential fires come from these homemade lithium-ion batteries.”
The looming threat—batteries designed to power the home—is another untouched area. according to the regulations. Batteries used are often used and of unknown history, stored in attics and basements with little or no firefighting equipment.
“Commercial systems are made by reputable companies. But as this trade grows larger and larger, and with the current cost of electricity and gas, people are increasingly turning to batteries for energy storage,” Christensen says.
“ That's what worries me.”
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