E-bike bursts into flames on Australian hill climb
- Thread starter Nova Haibike
- Start date
A fire like that most likely wasn't caused by a speed control or motor. They don't burn that bad. I'm sure the battery was the cause. In order for the battery to go up like that, there had to be a short in his battery pack. My guess is there was a loose wire or the cells came loose in the pack allowing them to move around and cause a short to happen. The batteries in your pack need to be secure. You should not be able to hear anything moving around in your pack. If you can hear a noise in your pack, tell the place you bought it from and get it replaced or fixed if your able. As many ebike packs that have been sold, we have a pretty good record of nothing catching fire. This was a bad battery pack from the maker and was bound to happen considering how many of these packs get made every year.
SirJonathan
Active Member
This is a little disconcerting but without details we don't know if this was a cheap homemade battery retrofit with a used geared hub motor constructed by a friend of the rider (or the rider himself) with little attention to detail.
I do keep my battery on my Juiced CCX and keep it in the garage. I guess to go one degree of safety more I should take it off the bike and set it on a shelf in the garage. Seems that without a connection and ability to be powered on it would be a little more stable.
With two Teslas and a CCX sitting in the garage I'm starting to feel like I'm pushing my luck a little bit.
I do keep my battery on my Juiced CCX and keep it in the garage. I guess to go one degree of safety more I should take it off the bike and set it on a shelf in the garage. Seems that without a connection and ability to be powered on it would be a little more stable.
With two Teslas and a CCX sitting in the garage I'm starting to feel like I'm pushing my luck a little bit.
Bruce Arnold
Well-Known Member
Holy smokes! That would liven up your day!
E-Wheels
Well-Known Member
Appears to be a dodgy home made kit fitted to a carbon road bike
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...aftermarket-motor-battery-catches-fire-404879
SirJonathan
Active Member
That incident with Tesla was an interesting one. Almost all of the Tesla fires have been because the battery was punctured including one where the battery apparently spontaneously caught fire but later was found to have a bullet in the battery pack. Tesla has a sophisticated battery fire system and the Rodeo Drive fire did exactly what it was supposed to do - venting from the sides and allowing the passengers to walk away unharmed. It did burn the car to the ground, however.
These eBike batteries seem to burn right in the worst spot for the rider with little to no protection. Nature of riding a bicycle, unfortunately.
They seem to be extremely rare, however. This is the first fire I have read about, although I admit to only having interest in eBikes for the past 6 months.
Similar to those that vape. You'll read about vapes being inherently unsafe and see videos of them exploding in people's faces. Almost every incident is because somebody altered their mod and screwed it up. I believe that is the case here too, and hopefully we'll learn more about it as the news gets updated.
These eBike batteries seem to burn right in the worst spot for the rider with little to no protection. Nature of riding a bicycle, unfortunately.
They seem to be extremely rare, however. This is the first fire I have read about, although I admit to only having interest in eBikes for the past 6 months.
Similar to those that vape. You'll read about vapes being inherently unsafe and see videos of them exploding in people's faces. Almost every incident is because somebody altered their mod and screwed it up. I believe that is the case here too, and hopefully we'll learn more about it as the news gets updated.
I wonder if the big brand batteries have any heat sensing failsafes built in? The temperature in Adelaide was mid 40's (c) - ie well over 110 f
I was facing a big uphill on the weekend in high 30 c temps and was wondering what I'd do if the battery / bike got too hot and shut down assist.
I was facing a big uphill on the weekend in high 30 c temps and was wondering what I'd do if the battery / bike got too hot and shut down assist.
If battery is fused, it is (probably) for the entire battery, not each cell individually. Hence, a short between the cells or on just one cell is still possible. Thermal shut-down of BMS will stop the PAS but this won't help - the fire would continue without any loads connected.
steve marino
Active Member
This post, or something like it, should be a sticky. I had no idea that all it takes for a lithium battery to catch fire and/or explode is for a short to happen. This really spooks me because a week or two ago I was pushing some pins into a connector to hook up my new hub motor and two of the battery wires accidentally touched, causing a much bigger spark than I expected. It was very audible and loud. Now I know that I could have had a fire or explosion in my face.
This is how these things happen
https://www.howtogeek.com/338762/why-do-lithium-ion-batteries-explode/
This is how these things happen
https://www.howtogeek.com/338762/why-do-lithium-ion-batteries-explode/
SirJonathan
Active Member
It bothers me too, Steve. I have this huge 52V pack and I really don't know much about it. Supposedly it utilizes Samsung 18650 batteries but I have no idea and I don't want to take it apart. I only charge outside and on the bike but it's sitting in my garage now. I know there are millions of devices that use these batteries, including 160kW sitting in my garage on my cars, but this 14-lb battery pack on my eBike concerns me.
Of course this is the only eBike battery failure I have heard about and again, its origins seem dubious to me, but it definitely causes me to think about safety.
This story seems like it could demonstrate a safety advantage for a rear rack mount battery. Obviously a battery explosion/fire is dangerous wherever the battery is mounted, but I think with a battery fire one would be more likely to escape quickly and reduce injury with the battery behind them rather than between their legs. It also makes me wonder if battery packs should have metal jackets instead of plastic.
Many battery packs do have metal casing - mostly rack-mounted rectangular packs. Major advantage of metal casing is a better heat dissipation (during normal battery operation). The chances of plastic breaking in half or melting during the fire are not usually a consideration. But there is also more risk that metal casing itself will cause a short by touching some conductors or individual cells.
What is more important is how individual cells are wrapped or shielded. Ideally, each one should be in sturdy metal jacket to prevent damage to individual cell, but I doubt that most manufacturers do this. Deeply discounted battery suppliers from Ebay and Aliexpress are prime suspects.
Citycrosser
Active Member
It is a fire retardant but a CO2 cartridge will totally blow up. And, when placed in a campfire, it will explode and spread the fire out in a spectacular fashion.
Bruce Arnold
Well-Known Member
That sounds like the voice of experience!
Citycrosser
Active Member
As a teenager in Appalachia, one finds a way to make things more interesting.....not sure how I survived those years!
Bruce Arnold
Well-Known Member
Yeah, same here -- Appalachia, teen-ager -- what about all the fun you could have with an aerosol spray and a BIC lighter?
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