Daren Mallouk on how to manage risks of lithium ion batteries in homes
If you’ve got an electric bike or e-scooter, you need to read this warning from experts.
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Lurking in garages, hallways, and even under children’s beds, many Queensland households are unwittingly harbouring a killer.
The risk associated with some forms of lithium ion batteries — common in e-bikes and e-scooters — can’t be overstated, said manager of the Queensland Fire Investigation Unit, Inspector Daren Mallouk.
Inspector Mallouk said Queensland fire crews responded to lithium ion battery fires multiple times a week, every week.
“I’ve lost count of how many blow my mind,” he said.
“In Queensland we’ve had two fatalities that were directly related to a scooter charging.
“One of the things we do see is people charging these things inside the house, inside their bedrooms, which is just a recipe for disaster.
“We’ve also had people charging them next to their point of exit … which can trap them in the room.”
“The other big one we’re seeing in recent times is people performing home modifications.”
Inspector Mallouk said he’d been into properties to investigate after a fire and found multiple scooters in various states of disrepair — evidence of attempted aftermarket modifications.
He said these ‘Frankenstein’ scooters were a certain way to start a fire.
“Without sounding overdramatic, it’s not a matter of ‘if’, it’s a matter of ‘when’, those home-modifications are going to fail,” he said.
Inspector Mallouk said there were things people could do to minimise the risk of batteries catching alight.
He advised only using the charger that originally came with the device, unplugging the device once it is charged, not leaving the device unattended while it is charging, and letting batteries cool down after use and before recharging.
He said it was also important to think about where the device was being charged, ensuring it was away from soft furnishings, moisture and heat, and wouldn’t block a potential exit.
Another contributing factor to the high risk is that lithium-ion battery fires can’t be put out in the same way other fires can.
He said to call emergency services the moment something goes wrong with your battery, and if you can safely do so, to take it outside.
Inspector Mallouk said if you’re planning on bringing an electric bike or e-scooter into your home, it’s worth spending the extra money to get one from an Australian retailer, which would hold higher safety standards.
Originally published as Daren Mallouk on how to manage risks of lithium ion batteries in homes
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