Is Your E-Bike Battery a Fire Risk? What You Need To Know

Electric bikes and scooters are fast and inexpensive ways to get where you need to go. At the same time, have you seen news stories about fires from the batteries that power them?

The West Jordan Fire Department has seen this problem too. "Battery charging has contributed to a small portion of the fires we've responded to," West Jordan Fire Deputy Chief Chris Trevino said.

Here are some quick tips to keep you safe:

Battery Safety: Do's and Don'ts

• Don't drop the battery. Hold it tightly when carrying. If a battery is dropped, the insides may break and create problems.
• Unplug it from the charger as soon as it's fully charged! Don't keep it plugged in longer than it needs! More electricity feeding into the battery is what causes problems.
• Keep the battery out of the heat. Heat plus electricity is a recipe for disaster.
• Don't leave batteries out in the sun. Direct sunlight is just like heat - Adding sunlight and heat to electricity is not a good combo.

Danger Signs to Look Out For

If your battery is showing one of these signs, unplug it, take the battery off the charger, and take it outside (use protective gloves, if needed).

• Bulging, warping, swelling, the battery is bigger than it used to be
• It is hot to touch
• You can hear a buzzing, hissing, cracking, popping noise
• There is a strange or unusual smell
• A liquid or any substance coming out

Act Fast: What to Do If Your Battery Is Dangerous

• Use protective covering or gloves if the battery is unsafe to touch.
• Unplug the charger from the wall.
• If this doesn't feel safe, pop the house breaker to that outlet.
• Take it off the charger base - excess electricity will backfeed into the charger.
• Take it outside.
• Let it cool.
• Call 911 if there is danger of fire or burns.
• If it starts a fire, use a fire extinguisher, not water.
• Once it is safe to handle, you will need to get rid of it, but don't put it in your can for garbage day! That's another fire waiting to happen! Take it to a Hazardous Waste Collection Center (see below for locations).

Once a battery is damaged, overheated, or broken, there is no saving or fixing it.

"If there's damage to the battery, we would suggest getting rid of it, and dispose of it properly," Trevino said. This means taking it to the right place. If you just throw it out in your own curbside can, it will continue to be a problem for you - another fire could start in the can, or in the garbage truck, or in the landfill.

If it's smoking, hissing or draining, you may have a big problem already. "The best thing to do is not keep it in an area that would potentially create bigger problems, like in your garage. Take it outside," Trevino said. "If people are worried, they are free to call 911 and you can get a fire engine that can come by and investigate. If it's on fire, please call us. We want to mitigate that situation as quickly as possible."

Pro Tip: Buy trusted chargers for your battery.

"The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers of micromobility products-including e-bikes, e-scooters, self-balancing scooters (hoverboards), and e-unicycles-not to use chargers that are marketed as "universal" or suitable with general categories of micromobility devices to avoid fires and injury or death, unless they have been tested and approved to work safely with your device."

Where To Take Rechargeable Batteries

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
8805 South 700 West, Sandy, Utah 84070

Phone Number: 385-468-4380

Hazardous Waste at Trans-Jordan Landfill

10473 S. Bacchus Hwy, South Jordan, UT 84009

Phone Number: (801) 569-8994

Household Hazardous Waste at Salt Lake County Landfill
6030 W. California Ave. (1300 S.)

Phone Number: 385-468-6370

These batteries can also be disposed of at the city's E-Waste and Shred Events. Visit the City's Garbage Collection page for more information.

By Erin Dixon