Micromobility devices boom in popularity as fires and fatalities spark concern

A woman’s death on a major road and injuries to hundreds of people have heightened calls for more scrutiny on these products Aussies are using in increasing numbers.

A series of horror fatalities linked to e-bikes and e-scooters, including the shocking death of a 32-year-old woman in central NSW, have marred the vehicles’ increasing popularity in Australia.

Jessie Van Der Draay was killed riding her e-scooter along the Great Western Highway in a deadly crash with a ute in Lithgow on March 1.

The 32-year-old’s fiancee Kayla Bunting paid tribute to her in a fundraising post as someone who was “one of a kind” and could “not be replaced”.

“Jessie was and is loved and respected by many people, she was not only a sister and a close mate but took on the big role of being a step mum to 2 girls,” Ms Bunting wrote.

“No matter what she always was there to help anyone who asked, she was always doing something around the house (or multiple things at once).”

Jessie Van Der Draay was killed while riding her e-scooter in central NSW. Picture: Supplied

“There was rarely a time you’d see Jessie without tools in her hands or building something new that she’s thought of. She was a woman of many talents.”

Ms Van Der Draay’s death came days after a NSW Legislative Council report said the rapid uptake of devices like e-scooters, e-bikes, and related mobility options in Australia had overtaken the infrastructure and laws needed for people to safely use them.

Collision and safety risk

A report by St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney found more than 500 e-bike riders wound up in emergency rooms requiring critical care as a result of a road incident between 2022-24.

The vehicles also present a risk for younger demographics, with two Sydney hospitals recording a spike in incidents involving children in 2024.

Electric micromobility devices, including e-bikes, are growing in popularity. Picture:NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick recorded 48 cases of injuries related to e-bikes and e-scooters, with five children injured after being hit as a pedestrian by an e-bike or e-scooter.

The NSW government has introduced trials in designated zones across the state in an effort to progress reforms to legalise safe e-scooter driving.

As of March 2025, only two local government areas have live trials: Forster-Tuncurry and Wollongong. Past trials have been carried out in Albury, Kogarah, Western Sydney Parklands, Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan, Lake Macquarie and Armidale.

“Since the e-scooter trials were introduced in late 2022, only 0.002 per cent of a total of 451,437 trips have resulted in incidents, including nine serious and zero critical,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said.

They help you get around, but there’s deadly risk on and off the road. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The department’s priorities during the trial included educating the community about safe riding, making changes to infrastructure and setting rules, minimum safety standards and speed limits.

“These trials have been very important in informing our position on potential e-scooter road rules and will continue until at least June 2025,” the spokesman said.

Deadly blazes and battery risk

Road accidents aren’t the only cause for concern. Electric mobility devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which have become notorious for starting a spate of fires.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRSNW) has responded to 52 battery fire-related incidents in 2025, a number expected to increase as more reports come in from responding fire stations.

Almost 50 per cent of reported battery fires were caused by micromobility devices, which include e-bikes and e-scooters.

A house fire found to be a lithium-ion battery blaze tore through a Guildford home in February and claimed Haidar Ali’s life. Picture: FRNSW

International student Haidar Ali died after being trapped in his bedroom in a blaze sparked by a lithium-ion battery.

FRNSW found an incompatible charger was powering Mr Ali’s e-bike, located in his bedroom, and the battery’s overheating likely caused the inferno.

The lithium-ion batteries commonly found in e-scooters and e-bikes contain a highly flammable solvent, which makes them prone to bursting into flames if damaged or overheated.

FRNSW Assistant Commissioner Michael Morris described Mr Ali’s death as a “tragedy” and said firefighters were “concerned” at the prospect of seeing increased fatalities as the number of battery fires increased.

Haidar Ali was a Pakistani national who used his e-bike for work as a food delivery driver. Picture: Supplied

Just two weeks prior, emergency services responded to four separate e-bike and e-scooter explosions in Sydney within a 12-hour period, prompting them to issue a warning to the public about charging e-bikes and e-scooters as well as the dangers of modifying or repairing the vehicles.

On February 1, the state government introduced new safety standards for lithium-ion micromobility devices. The changes were introduced to ensure only safe and compliant products were for sale to reduce the risk of fires.

Laws surrounding e-scooters and e-bikes?

In NSW, riding privately owned e-scooters in public spaces, including roads and footpaths, is illegal. However, people are still allowed to buy the devices and use them on private property. Transport for NSW data shows 1.35 million micromobility devices are found in homes across the state, with about 460,0000 of these being e-scooters.

As for e-bikes, there are two types that are legal in NSW: power-assisted pedal cycles and electrically power-assisted cycles. Both require the motor to be secondary to another power source.

E-bikes that do not meet the state’s specific requirements are illegal to use in public but may be used on private property.

In terms of road rules, e-bikes are considered equivalent to bicycles and the same road rules apply.