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On February 24, 2024, a fire hit a 34-story residential tower in the Chinese city of Nanjing. The fire injured 44 people and took the lives of 15 others. A preliminary investigation suggested that the fire started with an electric scooter parked on one of the floors of the building. This is not an isolated case; China faces an average of almost 60 fires per day caused by electric scooters.
Electric scooters are popular in China due to restrictions on gasoline scooters, but this popularity has brought a serious problem. Many fires start when the scooters are charging, in motion, or even parked in elevators. The lithium-ion batteries used in these scooters are flammable, and one of the main issues is the quality and safety of the components used to manufacture these batteries.
In China, many manufacturers of batteries for electric scooters operate with little oversight. To reduce costs, some companies omit essential components or use low-quality materials. This can cause failures in the battery management systems, leading to overloads and fires.
The Chinese Government Is Trying to Solve the Problem
In Shanghai, since 2021, it has been prohibited to charge scooters in common areas of buildings and enclosed spaces. Additionally, limits on speed and battery voltage are being established. The city is also expanding the infrastructure for charging points, with 95% of residential communities already having charging stations.
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Major manufacturers, such as BYD, are working to improve safety. After the fire in February, BYD announced that it will use its expertise in electric vehicle batteries to produce safer batteries for electric scooters.
China Is The Largest Manufacturer of Electric Scooters in the World, and Many Countries Import These Scooters
However, fires are less common elsewhere due to stricter regulations and better manufacturing practices. In the United States, for example, electric scooters are more expensive, which allows for the inclusion of higher quality batteries and effective protection systems.
Despite this, the risk is never completely eliminated. Fires caused by lithium batteries have been recorded in several countries, such as an incident in New York where a battery exploded in a scooter shop. Safety in the manufacturing and use of electric scooters must be a global priority to prevent tragedies.
Electric scooters are a sustainable solution for transportation, but they need to be used safely. It is essential that governments and manufacturers work together to ensure that batteries are of high quality and that users follow best charging and maintenance practices. Only then can we avoid tragedies like the one in Nanjing from happening again.
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