Crazy Lenny’s E-Bikes Madison, WI batt fire?

[LockH]

"Faulty lithium ion battery in bike suspected as cause of $350,000 fire"
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/lo...cle_1ef02bb5-edea-5ef1-91c7-011cb40f80ec.html

A faulty lithium-ion battery in an electronic bike probably sparked a fire that caused about $350,000 damage at a West Side business earlier this month, the Madison Fire Department said Monday.

Last week two lines of Brunton batteries were recalled because of the danger that they would overheat and catch fire during recharging.

(Recall notice
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/02...ease-North-America_5.pdf?12454099298741060935

(... lithium battery units nothing to do with ebikes of course.)

In one incident about $25,000 of property damage was caused, and in another a garage burned down, the Associated Press reported.

AP notice:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RECALLS_THIS_WEEK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

" About 1,050 in the U.S. and 40 in Canada."

In unrelated news, on same AP notice:

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

DETAILS: Polaris Model Year 2013-2016 RZR 900 and RZR 1000 recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). Consumers are being warned to stop using these recreational vehicles immediately and contact their Polaris dealer for a free repair. Visit www.polaris.com for details on the VIN numbers included in this recall. The VIN is normally located on the driver's side rear frame rail, above the PVT cover. To determine if a specific ROV is included in this recall visit www.Polaris.com and click on "Off-Road Safety Recalls" under the "Rider Community" heading on the main page of the Polaris website. They were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from July 2012 through April 2016.

WHY: The recalled ROVs can catch fire while consumers are driving, posing fire and burn hazards to drivers and passengers.

INCIDENTS: More than 160 reports of fires with the recalled RZR ROVs, resulting in one death of a 15 year old passenger from a rollover that resulted in a fire and 19 reports of injuries including first, second and third degree burns.

HOW MANY: About 133,000

 

[dogman dan]

Just my opinion, but a shop stocking e bikes in the hundreds needs a "fire room" for the charging station.

Costly, but I don't mean a fireproof room. Just a sheet rocked cubicle, with a large vent to outside in the ceiling. So a pack going off doesn't smoke damage the whole place, Including a huge stock of bikes. Sure, inadequate for a huge fire. I just mean divert the smoke if one pack pops off, and have some sheetrock between the room ceiling and the rest of the building. Not just a drop ceiling, or open rafters.

And uh,,,, don't' charge shit overnight. Particularly not the battery brought in because the bike has a problem.

 

[LockH]

Agree DM! Just maybe a little concerned that "lithium battery fire" is the "story of the day" for these news outlets. SOMEBODY (nameless, in this AP "news" gathering organization) can routinely scan official Recall Notices and put 2 + 2 together... and come up with 5? Or 6? On this case, THOUSANDS of (gas-powered) vehicle fires are "Old News", not worth reporting. I probably have LOTS of... stuff plugged in and using lithium cells. Braun shaver... BlackBerry... and other bits using more "dormant" Li cells NOT plugged in.

MAYBE any "problem" arises when you start connecting bunches of these "little" cells together to make one "big" cell. Circuits that perhaps are... less than 100% bullet-proof (amusing choice of phrase). One "down side" to loving everything (bought/made) "cheap".

To use an analogy, `round here, some folks are buying "Made in China Quality" ebikes as "scooter-style" with little or no warranty costs built in as part of the selling price. Then express surprise when stuff starts failing almost as soon as they ride off from the dealers store. You know, if it hasn't killed them already.

I'm probably Old School, expecting good design and construction to add to the selling price.