e-Bikes and e-scooters have become popular around the world, Indonesia included, as an alternative way to travel to the office, home, recreation spots and more. People choose them because they are easy, comfortable, cheap and environmentally friendly to get around on. They are powered by a lithium-ion battery that can drive the vehicle entirely or assist the rider’s pedalling, and can be recharged at home or at a charging point.
One thing to be aware of: there have already been accidents involving e-bike and e-scooter riders in Indonesia, most often after being hit by a car, leaving riders injured or killed. Because these vehicles are small, other motorists find them hard to see — so always stay alert to any emergency that might arise while riding.
A less well-known hazard is that the lithium-ion battery powering these vehicles can cause a fire if it isn’t used, charged and stored correctly. These batteries are flammable and can explode.
Riding safely
Being smaller, lighter and easier doesn’t make an e-bike or e-scooter safer — safety only comes when the rider rides safely:
- Wear suitable PPE: helmet, eye protection, knee and elbow pads
- Don’t speed, keep to a safe speed
- Watch for pedestrians and other vehicles
- Use your horn to warn others that you’re passing
- Watch for uneven, potholed and cracked surfaces that can throw you off
- Avoid heavy traffic — stay off roads packed with cars, motorbikes and buses
- Guard against short circuits in cables and batteries that overheat while charging and in use
- Always check the controls (handlebars, brakes, horn, lights, tyres, cables)
- Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Only one person per vehicle
When to stop using it
Stop using your e-bike or e-scooter if the battery is damaged, there’s an unusual smell, discolouration, heat, a change of shape, a leak, or it won’t charge.
Fire risk
The lithium-ion battery in an e-bike or e-scooter is the same type used in electric vehicles, phones, laptops and other electrical equipment. When the battery is damaged it heats up and can cause a fire or explosion that is usually hard for the rider to put out. Battery fires can be caused by incorrect charging, overloading the electrical circuit, improper disposal, or damage from drops and collisions. Such fires are already common in the USA and have caused injuries and deaths.
Avoiding a fire
- Buy only genuine, nationally approved vehicles, batteries and chargers from registered sellers
- Use the vehicle according to the rules, and make sure it is genuine, standard-compliant, compatible and not counterfeit
- Check it carries a warranty and insurance
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe use, storage, maintenance and charging
- Keep the vehicle and battery away from anything that generates heat or fire, and never smoke near it
- Use only the battery and charger designed for and supplied with the vehicle
- Never leave it unattended while charging, and don’t charge or store it near flammable materials
- Don’t overcharge, follow the manufacturer’s charging times and unplug the charger as soon as the battery is full
- Replace damaged batteries, and stop use at the first sign of an unusual smell, discolouration or damage
- Never put lithium-ion batteries in household waste — recycle them at a proper facility
- Have damage repaired only by a qualified professional, and never use a vehicle, battery or charger modified by unqualified people
- Make sure your home’s smoke and fire alarms work
Fire training with Samson Tiara
E-bike and e-scooter fires are a reminder that fire can break out anywhere, at any time, in anything we own. so it pays to know how to prevent and tackle one. Samson Tiara offers a range of firefighting courses, including Basic Fire Fighting (BFF), Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF), AFF by Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Floor / Fire Warden, Offshore Emergency Helideck Team Member (OEHTM) and Workplace Fire Safety (WFS). Read more about Basic Fire Fighting and Workplace Fire Safety.
