EZ Fire

Battery-powered electric micromobility devices, such as e-bikes and e-scooters, can catch fire due to their lithium-ion batteries. According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), there have been over 130 e-bike and e-scooter fires in the city so far in 2022, which is a 50% increase from the 104 fires reported in 2021. These incidents have resulted in the deaths of five people in the city in 2022, including a 5-year-old girl and a 36-year-old woman, who died and left the child's father in critical condition in an e-scooter fire at a NYCHA building in Manhattan in August. The issues causing these fires are often linked to aging, damaged, or malfunctioning batteries and charging devices.

As the popularity of these devices continues to grow, efforts to regulate e-bikes and e-scooters in some areas have faced resistance and enforcement challenges. This could signify similar struggles in other cities worldwide as safety authorities work to address this emerging hazard and the electric micromobility market experiences rapid growth. A multifaceted approach involving e-bike and e-scooter manufacturers, building owners, and the general public must address this issue. The FDNY advises users of these devices to follow charging and storage instructions and other safety guidelines.

At EZ Fire™, we prioritize fire safety in all of our work. As part of our design process, we conduct engineering audits on project plans to ensure adequate protection in tenant storage and bicycle storage rooms to mitigate this issue. We take great care in reviewing and emphasizing the importance of fire safety in these and all spaces.