An e-bike catches fire outside a pharmacy in Dubai on March 10, 2024. SUPPLIED

An e-bike caught fire outside a pharmacy in Dubai’s Business Bay area on Sunday (March 10), sparking renewed concerns about the safety of e-bikes and e-scooters.

During the incident on Sunday, the e-bike was being charged outside the pharmacy when its battery exploded, sparking a fire, witnesses said.

Thankfully, passers-by swiftly sprang into action, first dousing the flames with water before one person managed to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher.

"It can be quite worrying when you think about that happening inside an apartment. I hope something more can be done to prevent similar incidents," a Dubai resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told Expat Media.

In February, smoke from an e-scooter caused delays at a Dubai Metro station for nearly an hour. There were no casualties, but authorities implemented precautionary measures to ensure passengers’ safety.

Following the incident, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) banned e-scooters on Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram starting March 1.

Battery fires

The increasing popularity of electric bikes and e-scooters has meant the expansion in the use of lithium-ion batteries, and an increasing number of battery-related fires.

What risks do lithium-ion batteries present? Michael Pecht, a mechanical engineer at the University of Maryland, said that defects in manufacturing can easily spark a fire. He explained that with billions of batteries being made each year, "quality issues can affect performance".

Independent safety organization UL Research Institute says a defect in a battery can result in internal short circuits and what is called “thermal runaway”, causing lithium-ion cell to overheat and spark a fire.

The Electrical Safety First, the UK’s leading charity on electrical safety, reported three main reasons that contribute to e-bike or e-scooter battery fires.

According to Electrical Safety First, overcharging the battery can cause an external short circuit that could spark a blaze. Mechanical failure can also lead to e-bike or e-scooter battery fire, particularly if the battery is damaged by an external object or subjected to extreme or repeated impact. The third reason is thermal, when e-bikes or e-scooters are left in extremely high or even extremely low temperature environments.

Experts advise consumers to avoid buying e-scooters or e-bikes from substandard companies, and to never buy cheap or fake replacement lithium batteries. Users are also urged to use the correct battery charger and to never overcharge their batteries. Unplug the charger once the battery has finished charging. ICA/Expat Media

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