Four lithium-ion e-bike battery fires have injured a dozen people in four separate fires sparked over just one day, FDNY officials said.
According to a report in the New York Daily News, the fires – three in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn – have continued the troubling trend of malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries that are used to power electric bicycles, which are surging in popularity not just in New York, but also around the country.
E-bike battery fires have left four people dead in New York City last year, fire officials said.
E-Bike Battery Fires: Incidents and Injuries
The largest fire occurred early morning in Brooklyn’s Kensington section on April 21 when an e-bike battery triggered a three-alarm fire that gutted a home on East 9th Street. Seven people were treated at the scene for injuries. The first fire occurred in a Chelsea apartment when an e-bike battery exploded into flames. A resident of the building suffered smoke inhalation injuries.
Another fire occurred in East Harlem, where another e-bike caught fire. No one was injured in that incident. The fourth blaze occurred when a lithium-ion battery attached to an e-bike exploded in a building on Fort Washington Avenue in Washington Heights. Four people were injured in that incident.
Battery Fire Statistics
In 2022 alone, more than 40 fires have been reported citywide linked to these batteries. In 2021, 104 fires were reported resulting in 79 injuries and four deaths. Nationwide, charging lithium-ion batteries for devices such as scooters and e-bikes has caused 330 fires from 2015 to 2018 leading to more than $9 million in property damage, according to a study released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2020.
Fire officials recommend scooter owners do not charge batteries unattended and that they should be charged outdoors. The batteries that explode or catch fire tend to be purchased online or in scooter stores as replacements for the battery that came with the device, FDNY officials say.
Product Liability Issues
If you have suffered injuries due to such e-bike battery fires, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer seeking compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. An experienced product defect lawyer will be able to help you preserve your rights and receive maximum compensation for your losses.
Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-four-fires-in-two-days-linked-to-scooter-batteries-20220422-agfcc6g2kbdb3gkk6oeoycal5q-story.html
