Cambs Fire and Rescue Station Commander Gareth Boyd provides some tips for reducing the risk of fire in relation to e-bikes and e-scooters.
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00:00 E-bikes and e-scooters are becoming a more common mode of transport in everyday use,
00:04 especially when bought from a reputable dealer, they can be safe mode of transport.
00:10 Please follow our safety tips on safe charging in the home.
00:13 So here we have two purpose-built e-bikes. One is an e-mountain bike, it's mid-drive
00:20 at the pedals and the battery is stored in the frame. We've got a step-through city bike,
00:28 which is a drum drive on the rear wheel and it's got a cassette battery that slides in
00:34 underneath this pannier bag. These are made by reputable companies. If you want to do a
00:40 conversion on your own bike, make sure that you buy a kit from a reputable company and make sure
00:46 that it's got all electrical safety marks on it. Make sure you inspect your batteries on your
00:52 e-bikes and scooters regularly, checking for signs of damage, whether it be from impact or heat.
00:57 On the batteries, there should be a power indicator. As you can see, this one is dead.
01:03 I'll be replacing it with a brand new one. There are people online that say they can repair them.
01:10 However, they're doing it as a hobby. They're not licensed to do this and it often comes in
01:18 more expensive to have someone repair with inferior goods than if you buy from a reputable
01:24 dealer. Things to look out for in your batteries and chargers. Look for the CE mark so it's
01:29 compliant with electrical safety. Make sure the plug is fused. That's cheap imports, don't have
01:36 a fuse and have got a risk of fire hazard. Also, do not recycle symbol. This indicates that you
01:45 should take it to a local recycling center instead of putting it in your household bins.
01:50 When charging your e-bike battery, keep it away from exit routes and don't charge it overnight
01:56 when you be sleeping. Always make sure that you're awake and alert when you're charging it
02:00 and keep it away from flammable materials. When charging your e-bike batteries, make sure you do
02:05 this in a well-ventilated area away from exit routes. Make sure you use genuine chargers and
02:10 batteries. Make sure you don't overcharge them. Most genuine parts will have indicator lights to
02:19 show how much charge is in the battery. When it's full, unplug and turn off. This will prevent any
02:27 risk for fire. If you're not going to use the battery, make sure you only charge to approximately
02:32 75%. Please follow our safety tips when charging your e-bikes and e-scooters in your home. Also,
02:39 make sure that you've got at least one working smoke alarm and we hope you get many hours of
02:44 enjoyment from your bikes and scooters.