Latest news with #lithiumIonBatteries
CBC
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
E-bike battery fires: Some tips to help buyers avoid getting burned
Social Sharing With Toronto's fire department sounding the alarm about lithium-ion battery fires, the owners of two London-area e-bike shops say a bit of consumer education goes a long way. From 2022 to 2024, the number of fires linked to the rechargeable batteries in Toronto jumped 162 per cent, from 29 to 76. Many of those fires are linked to e-bikes powered by lithium-ion batteries, though the batteries also power scooters and other devices. Matt Long, who's been selling battery-powered bikes at his store E-Ride London for 15 years, said bikes bought online often don't have the same safety certifications as bikes purchased at a shop. "The biggest thing is buying the cheaper bikes," he said. "They're cheaper for a reason. They're cheaping out on unstable lithium-ion battery cells." Long said buyers should be looking for "UL" certification on bikes they buy, which stands for Universal Laboratories and indicates a safety standard recognized in the U.S. and Canada. Long said bikes at his shop are made by Canadian companies, such as Taubik, Velec and Envo, which all have UL certification. Long said UL 2849 certification indicates that the bike's battery and electrical system have been tested. Other UL certifications are limited to the battery alone. What to know about risks around lithium-ion batteries as reports rise in battery-related fires 2 days ago Duration 2:22 While he can't comment on every bike available on the market, Long said he would view with some suspicion any e-bike that's only available direct-to-consumer through an online vendor. He also recommends buyers be leery of any e-bike with a price tag in the $1,000 range or less. "If you buy from a store, you get some support and quality batteries, and you can speak to a human if you have a problem," he said. "Most of the better companies are dealer-based and they don't ship to the customer." Long said he'd like to see tougher regulations on bikes that are imported for sale in Canada. Joe Haskett owns Junior's e-Bikes in St. Thomas, a store that sells e-bikes and mobility scooters powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. He agrees that cheaper, imported e-bikes and scooters are part of the battery fire problem, and says bike owners need to read and follow instructions about how to safely charge and store their battery. "There should be no problem if they properly follow the guidelines about how to maintain a battery," he said. Haskett said safety tips include never charging a battery that's damaged or hot from recent use, and batteries should be unplugged once charging is complete. Haskett's store also sells special fire-proof blankets to wrap batteries when they're not in use. He said this is helpful in cases where there isn't a garage or balcony to store the bike away from flammable material such as carpets and furniture. London fire department gets special gear London Deputy Fire Chief Matt Hepditch said London firefighters have responded to lithium-ion battery fires, but not on the same scale as what's happening in Toronto. "The issues that we see are perhaps people that are buying after-market batteries and not the batteries built by the actual manufacturer," said Hepditch. It's important that batteries are not modified and are the correct batteries for the bike being used, he said. He said lithium-ion batteries can go into a dangerous state called "thermal runaway." This happens when the battery's cells heat up and transfer that heat to adjacent cells, one after the other, until the entire battery bursts into flames. When this happens, Hepditch said the resulting fire can be difficult to extinguish. "The fire just grows in intensity and it's not going out until the power source is drained," he said. "It's a very intense fire and it can spread very quickly." London's fire department is testing special equipment to deal with battery fires, including sand-filled containers used to hold batteries that become overheated. "I also know that the battery industry is making improvements to make them safer, they're working on the issue," he said.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
Lithium-ion battery fires jump 162% in Toronto over 2 years, city says
The number of fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries in Toronto has more than doubled in the span of two years, the city says. From 2022 to 2024, the number of fires jumped 162 per cent, from 29 to 76, according to a city news release Monday. So far this year, Toronto Fire has responded to 43 fires, the city says. "We're seeing a concerning rise in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, many of which are preventable," said Fire Chief Jim Jessop in the release. The batteries are commonly found in e-bikes, smartphones, laptops and many other electronic devices. When used correctly, lithium-ion batteries are generally safe, the city release says. But the city is reminding people that modifying or tampering with these batteries can be dangerous, saying it's a common cause of many recent fires. Additionally, battery overcharging can cause overheating, sometimes leading to a process called thermal runaway, said Marla Friebe, deputy fire chief of community risk reduction. "When these batteries go into thermal runaway, they are almost impossible to put out," Friebe said firefighters have to keep the fire from spreading by cooling it while they wait for the battery to self-extinguish. Friebe says the Toronto Fire Service would like to see more regulation and is asking people to refrain from purchasing devices that contain lithium-ion batteries online or second-hand, particularly bigger devices like e-bikes. The reminder comes as Toronto Fire kick-starts its second annual campaign aimed at educating people on the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. There are a few things users can do to reduce the risk of a fire, the city says, aside from not tinkering with the batteries. People should only use certified, manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers and keep them in sight while they charge, the city says. Should users notice anything out of the ordinary with a battery — strange odours, discolouration, excessive heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises — the city says they should stop using it and contact the manufacturer. Old or damaged lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of at city drop-off depots, the city says.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Officials urge proper lithium-ion battery use after 'concerning rise' in fires
Toronto Fire has launched a second public safety campaign to raise awareness about the growing fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. In 2024, firefighters responded to 76 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, a 38% increase from 2023 (55 fires) and a 162% increase compared to 2022 (29 fires). This year, Toronto Fire has already responded to 43 blazes caused by lithium-ion batteries, one of which was a significant high-rise fire with multiple injuries to both occupants and first responders. During the subsequent fire investigation, a large quantity of lithium-ion batteries were discovered within the affected unit and determined to have significantly contributed to the fire's growth and the amount of smoke that had spread throughout the building. 'We're seeing a concerning rise in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, many of which are preventable,' said Toronto Fire general manager Chief Jim Jessop in a statement. 'This campaign is about giving residents the knowledge they need to stay safe. Fire prevention is a shared responsibility (and) together we can protect our homes, neighbours and our city. Toronto Fire Services will continue to advocate for the necessary regulatory changes to reduce this public fire safety risk in our city.' TTC board postpones vote on proposed e-bike ban during winter Canada Post worker helps save woman from fiery Tesla crash Lithium-ion batteries power many everyday devices, including smartphones, laptops, e-bikes and toys, and are generally safe, but can become dangerous if damaged, tampered with or improperly charged. Many of the recent fires were caused by attempts to modify or extend the life of the batteries. — Keep the lithium-ion battery in sight while charging; — Never tamper with or modify a battery; — Only use certified, manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers; — Stop using a lithium-ion battery and contact the manufacturer if there are any of the following problem signs: Strange odours, discolouration, excessive heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises.
CBC
07-07-2025
- CBC
Lithium-ion battery fires jump 162% in Toronto over 2 years, city says
The number of fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries in Toronto has more than doubled in the span of two years, the city says. Between 2022 and 2024 the number of fires jumped 162 per cent, from 29 to 76, according to a city news release Monday. So far this year, Toronto Fire has responded to 43 fires, the city says. "We're seeing a concerning rise in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, many of which are preventable," said Fire Chief Jim Jessop in the release. The batteries are commonly found in e-bikes, smartphones, laptops and many other electronic devices. When used correctly, lithium-ion batteries are generally safe, the city release says. But the city is reminding people that modifying or tampering with these batteries can be dangerous, saying it's a common cause of many recent fires. The reminder comes as Toronto Fire kick-starts its second annual campaign aimed at educating people on the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. There are a few things users can do to reduce the risk of a fire, the city says, aside from not tinkering with the batteries. People should only use certified, manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers and keep them in sight while they charge, the city says. Should users notice anything out of the ordinary with a battery — strange odours, discolouration, excessive heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises — the city says they should stop using it and contact the manufacturer.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- CTV News
Battery fires increasing in Toronto: city
Fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in Toronto are on the rise, the city says. Toronto saw a 38 per cent jump in fires related to the common power source last year, with 76 related fires in 2024 versus 55 in 2023. In 2022, there were 29 fires. Seven months into 2025, Toronto Fire Services say they have already responded to 43 battery fires this year. 'We're seeing a concerning rise in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, many of which are preventable,' Chief Jim Jessop said in a news release issued Monday, as the city launched its second annual 'This is Your Warning' public safety campaign to raise awareness about battery fires. 'This campaign is about giving residents the knowledge they need to stay safe. Fire prevention is a shared responsibility, together we can protect our homes, neighbours and our city.' One of the fires crews responded to this year involved what the city described as a 'significant' highrise fire, which resulted in multiple injuries to both occupants and first responders. A subsequent investigation found a 'large quantity' of lithium-ion batteries were inside the affected unit and 'significantly contributed to the fire's growth and extent of smoke spread throughout the building.' In early 2024, an e-bike battery failed on a TTC subway train and burst into flames, sending thick black smoke billowing through the train and had passengers running for safety. The bike's owner was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The city says lithium-ion batteries are 'generally' safe and power things like e-bikes, smartphones, laptops and toys. However, they warned that the batteries can become dangerous if damaged, tampered with or improperly stored. 'Many of the recent fires were caused by attempts to modify or extend the life of the batteries,' the city said. To make sure you're using your battery safely, the city advises: Keep the lithium-ion battery in sight while charging Never tamper with or modify a battery Only use certified, manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers Stop using the lithium-ion battery and contact the manufacturer if there are any of the following problem signs: strange odours, discolouration, excessive heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises You can dispose of your old or damaged batteries at a city drop off depot here.
