East Suffolk Council

Lithium-ion batteries safety

Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous throughout the UK as many households now have a raft of rechargeable electrical items ranging from toothbrushes, phones, tablets, and tools. The increasing trend for e-scooters, e-bikes, and with an aging population, mobility scooters, is bringing larger, more powerful lithium-ion batteries into the home.

Lithium-ion batteries come with beneficial features, which make them ideal for underpinning those devices we use the most. They have a high energy density, longer lifespans boosted by being rechargeable, and are comparatively lightweight. 

However, their high energy density, which is usually considered to be very safe, can also pose potential fire risks. This risk is present during the charging process when heat is generated, which can cause individual cells within a given battery to overheat. In the event of this occurring, the melting point of the lithium may be exceeded, which can then trigger a chain reaction and what could potentially be an uncontrollable fire.  This process is called thermal runaway.

Safety Tips

• Check your lithium-ion batteries regularly for any signs of damage to the battery casing or its terminals, swelling, and/ or hotspots. Do not use or attempt to recharge any damaged batteries.
• Check your battery charging devices and cables for any signs of damage. Do not use any damaged equipment.
• Dispose of lithium-ion batteries by the approved and correct way. Do not dispose of batteries in your household waste bins as this can lead to fires at the waste collection centres or at landfill.
• Do not over-charge a lithium-ion battery or charge them is a hot environment. Always charge them in a well-ventilated area.
• Do not charge lithium-ion batteries overnight of leave them unattended.
• E-bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters should not be charged in the entrance hallway of your home. A fire in this area would significantly reduce the chances of you and your family escaping your home safely and without injury in the event of a battery fire.
• E-bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters should not be stored or charged in the communal areas of blocks of flats.
• If you live in a block of flats and need the use a mobility scooter, you must contact your Housing Officer and sign-up to the Council’s Mobility Scooter Policy.
• Only buy e-bikes, e-scooters, mobility scooters, e-bike conversion kits, and other rechargeable equipment from reputable sources making sure it complies with British and European safety standards.
• Anecdotal information indicates that many fires caused by lithium-ion batteries operating e-bikes and e-scooters have been linked to those conversion kits or batteries purchased online. If something is so cheap that it seems too good to be true, then its probably is and should be avoided.
• If the plan is to add a lithium-ion battery to an e-bike or e-scooter as part of a conversion move, consider employing the services of a professional to carry out the installation. On that note, if this process has already been conducted, look into having a trained technician to maintain and check the battery. Bear in mind it’s recommended that the battery is checked every two-to-three months.
• If your battery begins to crackle, hiss, and/or emit a gas, it has entered thermal runaway. You do not have the time to unplug it (if its charging) or remove the device from your home. Warn others, get out immediately, stay out, and call the Fire Service on 999.