electric bike /scooter fires...

[andyoxon]

There are some dramatic & tragic examples of e-bike fires out there.  Saw a version of this:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XxwQgKn0uUE
From starting to smoke to raging fire was 10-15secs (scooter in kitchen).  So 'not leaving unattended' i.e. going out doesn't cover it - seems to be nothing you can do.  Guessing these fires are much more likely with inferior non-mainstream battery products though... 

[mrcharly-YHT]

IF you don't leave it unattended, there is a chance you can chuck it out in the street and just lose the bike, rather than your entire house/flat (plus endangering other people in the building).

[Adam]

I'm not aware of any of the mainstream manufacturers e-bikes going up in flames.

[Quint]

I'm not aware of any of the mainstream manufacturers e-bikes going up in flames.

The reports I've read say usually DIY adaptions including badly matched batteries to chargers. A friend bought a battery etc from a popular online auction site and a motor to fit his Brommie and built it up/adapted it and this is what the fire brigades are saying is the problem.
         I wouldn't like to get anywhere near a fire involving one as speed of it going up and possibly exploding is extremely high

[Kim]

badly matched batteries to chargers.

Would be top of my list of ways to start a Li+ battery fire.  Closely followed by inadequately designed charging circuitry.  And then physical damage.

Properly-managed Li+ batteries (ie. those, including charging systems, from reputable manufacturers) are reasonably well behaved these days.  We don't generally expect phones or laptops to catch fire unless damaged.

A lot of these low-end scooter/ebike systems seem to be about as trustworthy as a no-name USB battery bank.  But bigger.

[tonycollinet]

When I eventually get an e-bike, the charger will be installed not-in-the-house. Probably in a waterproof box affixed to the side of the pond (where I already have outdoor electrics).

[lissotriton]

Physical damage seems more likely for scooters, where the batteries are under the deck. Could get bashed every time you hop up on a kerb, or go over a speed bump, or hit a pothole etc.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Some have the battery just behind the steering column. I think this is more for ease of access (swapping) than to reduce physical damage.

[tom_e]

Properly-managed Li+ batteries (ie. those, including charging systems, from reputable manufacturers) are reasonably well behaved these days.

Yep, but bear in mind that because of the persisting government refusal to regulate e-scooters properly beyond the "pilot" schemes, there is no legal market for privately owned Li battery e-scooters from reputable manufacturers in the UK.  As a consequence, while you have reputable Bosch and Shimano systems covering much of the e-bike market, you have grey market crap filling the e-scooter one.  At a system or national level, blaming careless owners for this is somewhat daft (not aimed at you).