I felt how hot my charger gets and I took the manufacturers warning to unplug it as soon as it’s charged, since day fucking 1
I made a video about this problem in September, but here’s the TLDW:
Many consumers, thanks to the inflated gas prices, shitty economy and shitty wages, are buying inexpensive off-brand products and batteries and/or charging their device when they’re out of the home working because they have to. All of this is risky behavior and could result in a battery fire. Here’s what you want to do in order to be safe:
- Use the Manufacturer’s Charger
- Don’t Leave your Device Unattended While Charging
- Charge Only On Safe Surfaces (And Don’t Block Exits)
- Mind the Battery Temperature / Don’t Charge Overnight
- Inspect Your Battery Regularly
- Don’t Plug Into a Power Strip or Extension Cord, but into an outlet directly.
This is unfortunately a problem worldwide, because the poverty problem is worldwide.
Also, as someone mentioned below: Yes, do not cheap out on e-mobility. Save if you can and buy from a trusted brand, or if you’re in Europe, only buy CE certified products.
if you’re in Europe, only buy CE certified products.
Two things to remember here:
-
there is also the counterfeit CE (“China Export”) marking on some cheap products. So some noname super cheap brands are not necessarily actually CE marked despite having a “CE” label.
-
CE marking is a just self a certification. It’s basically the manufacturer pinky promising that they’ve totally built something according to CE specs. Only trust it from a reputable brand, because there’s a shit load of wiggle room within CE specs.
Thank you for adding this. Have a great day.
CE marking is a just self a certification
That’s true, but the manufacturer must produce credible testing evidence to quality, so it’s not completely useless.
the manufacturer must produce credible testing evidence to quality
Well sort of, because this testing and validation is allowed to be done by themselves without 3rd party oversight. So it still all relies on trust in the manufacturer.
Edit: there’s also the loophole that you can assume your product is CE compliant if you only use CE certified components. You don’t even have to document you’re using them correctly or within specs.
Thing is it’s still more stringent than DOT regulations. So not perfect at all but the better choice. At least that’s what constantly floats among bikers looking to buy protective gear.
Yes, true. It isn’t perfect.
-
A lot of people suggest charging in a big ceramic pot (with something covering the top, I assume). As one commenter pointed out, they can contain thermite, so…
A real chargerium.
In 2025 New York City experienced 205 deaths related to traffic.
Enough is enough.
12 deaths: “Enough is enough”
205 deaths: “All time low”
Can’t make this shit up
I think you are missing the point that the bike fires caused property damage.
Requiring fireproof charging/storage lockers for ebike batteries—except for those stuck with the bill (mostly landlords), most people think this is a good idea, or are indifferent.
Retooling the entire transportation infrastructure to make not-driving more practical—not terribly popular. The set of people willing to give up their cars is small.
That’s why the acceptable-mortality-rate thresholds are different.
Really confused as to what exactly you want here. You don’t even have to read the article, just the subheading, to see that they are saying the city should build more bike infrastructure.
City has failed to build infrastructure that could reduce threat
Ideally, any number of deaths is too many and they are looking to reduce that number by suggesting things to increase safety for people who ride them. That’s a double win. Less biker deaths is good on its own, but also makes bikes safer so more people are inclined to use them. If there’s something the city can do to prevent these deaths, isn’t it appropriate to be upset and demand action? They’re demanding the city build charging stations or battery swaps. That’s basically a subsidy for these bikes.
“In late October, four members of a family, including an 11-year-old boy, died in a fire caused by a battery in an ebike that was in the pathway to an exit of an 11th floor apartment in a public housing building in the Bronx.”
Whatever “sides” you’re on that’s fucked up.
Plus, what guarantees that deaths on/because of/due to e-bikes don’t go up when they’re more ubiquitous?
That sure is fucked up, the fact those parents were so incredibly negligent and ignorant as to not teach their child basic fire safety or electronics charging etiquette. That boy would still be alive had those parents had even a slight amount of common sense.
Wait until you hear about how many kids cars kill, or are you just concern trolling?
Bike people are hilarious
Bike people are hilarious
and how’bout those people who think that there are “bike people”?
You mean morons? There sure are a lot of them and they seem pretty excited about making the world as shitty as possible for some reason.
Don’t cheap out on micromobility
Tell that to people with limited income.
Unless you go battery-free bike and cancel any gym membership you may have as a bonus.
Solid way to go, no joke.
I wanted to share what I’ve been doing for harm reduction, since i pretty much have to charge my scooter indoors.
I bought a $10 countdown timer outlet that plugs into the wall. If i want to charge the scooter to 100% i set it to 6 hours or so.
Scootbatt recently came out with an app estimate that does two helpful things:
- Gives an estimate for how a charge up to 80% will take
- Notifies your phone when the scooter reaches 80%
I use these features to charge until 80% and then de-energize the charger, unless i am going to need 100% charge that day.
Must have bought them at city e-bikes
That… that was Kenny?
