The bedroom where the e-bike was charging. Photo: FRNSW
NSW retailers of lithium-ion powered e-scooters, e-bikes and other ‘e-vehicles’ now have to supply safety warnings to customers.
The requirement is one of two introduced by the NSW Government to reduce the risks of lithium-ion batteries, which are being linked to more fires.
Fire and Rescue NSW says there were 193 fires from 2022-25 and increasing every year; some of them have been fatal including one on Tuesday in Sydney.
New laws requiring components, like chargers, to be compliant with safety standards took effect on February 1.
These standards regulate guidance and warnings to consumers about risks and avoiding them. It covers product and fire safety, emergency procedures, product end of life and storage, as well as electrical safety and advice on road rules.
Retailers will get a six-month ‘honeymoon’ period but from August 1, they face penalties of up to $5500 for each breach, the government says.
Better Regulation and Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong says that as the popularity of e-vehicles grow, more must be done to ensure they are safe.
“NSW now has the strongest regulatory framework in Australia when dealing with the risks posed by e-micromobility vehicles, setting a best-practice example for jurisdictions around the country.”
He says NSW will share its lessons with other states and territories as national regulations are adopted.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann says badly designed and built lithium-ion batteries contribute to more than one fire per week across NSW.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell welcomed the new regulation.
“Three people died within the last 12 months in NSW from fires involving lithium-ion battery-powered bikes,” he says.
Fire involving lithium-ion batteries went from 23 in 2022 to 93 last year with 10 this year so far.
FATAL FIRE
FRNSW investigators believe a charging battery on a food delivery e-bike was the cause of a fatal house fire at Guildford in Sydney on Tuesday.
Crews confirmed there were no working smoke alarms in the Rowley Rd house that caught alight just before 5am.
Five people were evacuated but a man was found in a bedroom that was on fire and could not be revived. One survivor had to be taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Fire investigators say an incompatible charger was used to power the e-bike battery in the bedroom; the bike was discovered outside the home.
They believe the battery could not absorb the power from the charger and caught fire.
