Lithium-ion batteries are in most rechargeable battery appliances and equipment, including vacuums, watches, cellphones, laptops, and cameras. They are best known for their use in electric vehicles, e-bikes, and e-scooters, and they have garnered national attention because of the dramatic increase in fires, injuries, and deaths they have caused. As these numbers continue to rise, laws and regulations regarding electric vehicles are constantly evolving. New York City and New Jersey, for example, both recently passed new regulations aimed at improving rider safety and addressing concerns about accidents, injuries, and lithium-ion battery hazards.
Just one fire caused by an e-bike can cost an association hundreds of thousands in insurance premiums, and eventually, insurance companies may not insure properties that allow e-bikes or don’t take proper precautions.
The safest form of protection is to prohibit e-bikes, etc., from the premises, but if that isn’t going to be done, then the following should be instituted:
- The building should provide a storage area, such as a basement, with concrete walls and floors, where residents can keep their e-bikes.
- The building should provide a fireproof cabinet where the batteries can be safely charged. More information is available at cellblockfcs.com/battery-cabinets.
- Five feet of separation should be required between e-bikes and batteries in a non-sprinklered space and three feet of separation in a sprinklered space.
- The board should institute a rule that E-bikes and their batteries are not permitted in building units.
- Keep an eye on any e-bike recalls and inform residents when necessary. This information can be found at CPSC.gov/recalls.
- All residents should be made aware of the following:
- E-bikes and their batteries are not permitted in building units.
- Only use Underwriting Laboratories (UL) Certified e-bikes and batteries.
- Never charge batteries near flammable materials.
- Battery charging should not exceed three hours maximum to avoid overheating.
- Do not use extension cords or power strips to charge batteries.
- Keep e-bikes away from appliances that generate heat.
- Do not store e-bikes next to each other, which could trigger multiple batteries to ignite.
- Do not store any combustible materials, other than the e-bikes, in the storage room.
- Rechargeable batteries should only be disposed of at battery disposal centers, never thrown in garbage bags or bins. More info can be found at nyc.gov/batteries.
- Common fire extinguishers DO NOT extinguish lithium-ion fires. In case of emergency, only use a fire extinguisher that is NTA 8133 Certified. One should be purchased and kept nearby. You can purchase one at the following links:
E-bikes and their batteries are a constantly evolving topic. If you have questions regarding carrier guidelines or what steps should be taken in your building, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
