Are electric scooters dangerous – why do some explode?

In the following article, we answer whether an electric scooter can catch fire, and share how to handle these devices to minimise the risk of a dangerous situations.

Are electric scooters safe?

The short answer is – it depends. If you buy an electric scooter from a reputable manufacturer and handle it properly, you don’t have to worry because the risk of a dangerous malfunction is very low. 

The vast majority of dangerous situations are caused by one of two reasons: 

1. The scooter, battery or charger did not come from a branded manufacturer;
2. The scooter, battery or charger was used in an inappropriate manner by the user.

Why do electric scooters explode?

Battery ignition is largely responsible for mechanical damage resulting from inadequate handling during driving or transport. Take care that the scooter and battery are well protected during transport – pack them in bubble wrap and a rigid cardboard box.

Batteries purchased from hobbyist manufacturers can also be a very common cause of explosions. When you buy an electric vehicle, a new battery or a battery charger, pay attention to check that they have been manufactured by a reputable company with a proved reputation. Don’t be tempted by a lower price and don’t buy ‘no-name’ devices of unknown origin. 

If you buy a used device, ask to see proof of purchase. If you are not an expert on the field, consult an expert with more knowledge in this area before buying.

The replacement batteries manufactured by City Lion are protected against short-circuiting and overcharging. The branded lithium-ion cells we use are of the best quality and as safe as possible.

What to use to put out an electric scooter fire?

Unfortunately, there may be a situation where an electric scooter causes a fire. It is a good idea to secure yourself with a special fire extinguisher for Li-ion batteries and place it close to where you store your electric vehicle.

In our opinion, the best fire extinguisher, equipment for extinguishing this type of battery would be, in order:

1. Water extinguisher + fire blanket,
2. Snow extinguisher,
3. Foam extinguisher.

How to maintain the electric scooter?

Once you become the owner of an electric vehicle, remember that you need to take proper care of it. 

Where is the best place to keep your scooter?

While transporting and storing your scooter or battery, the key is to keep them uncharged. The cells are then the safest. If you are not using your electric scooter, do not keep it fully charged. The optimum battery charge level is between 30-50%.

How to charge an electric scooter safely?

When buying a charger, pay attention not only to its manufacturer, but above all to its specifications! The charger must be properly matched to your vehicle in terms of voltage and current. This is very important. Some time ago in Warsaw, there was a battery ignition in a scooter because the scooter had a nominal voltage of 36V and the user used a charger with 48V.

When you connect a scooter to a charger (or a battery to a scooter), do not do so in a room with a high risk of ignition. There may be a small spark as a result of connecting or disconnecting the cable, which does not normally carry any danger, but under certain circumstances could lead to a fire. 

For example, there was a situation where the owner of a scooter was cleaning his computer with compressed air (which is a flammable gas) with the doors and windows in the room closed.

Moments later, he plugged the scooter into a non-original charger, resulting in a spark. In itself it was not dangerous, but it caused the gas in the room to explode. 

We recommend reading our previous guide on how to charge batteries correctly.

Is it worth mounting solid tyres on an electric scooter?

In recent years, so-called solid tyres, which are not inflated and are therefore much more durable, have become very popular.

These have their undoubted advantages, but also one major disadvantage – in the case of scooters without cushioned suspension, they expose the structure of the scooter to greater vibrations compared to the original, tubed tyres, which can ultimately even lead to the battery catching fire. Not every scooter model is designed to use solid (tubeless) tyres.

Summary 

Electric scooters are safe if you know how to handle them. By following the advice in this article, you don’t have to worry about the battery exploding. Remember that if you buy from an unknown manufacturer, you run the risk of purchasing unapproved cells that may spontaneously combust. 

City Lion does not use recycled (so-called depackaged) cells. In addition, every battery we manufacture is meticulously checked by our specialists.

You can buy a City Lion replacement battery without worry – every product is covered by our guarantee.

Check out our batteries for electric scooters:

• Xiaomi – increase the range of your electric scooter by up to 4 times.
• Jeep – an adult electric scooter requires a capacious battery.
• Ducati – be always on time with a new battery for the Ducati Pro II Evo scooter.
• Ninebot – a boost to get around town quickly without constant charging.
• And Nanrobot, Vsett, Joyor and Kugoo.
• We also make custom batteries!
• If you have an electric bike, check out our e-bike batteries.