The most common reasons for e-scooters to catch fire are overheating, overcharging, and stress on lithium-ion batteries. However, there are a few more reasons that a scooter could catch fire, too. Listed below are some of the most common reasons for e-scooters to catch fire. Read on to learn why Prithviraj accidentally set his e-scooter on fire!
Overheating
Overheating is a common problem that occurs in electrically powered scooters. Overheating is a result of poor air flow in the scooter and an impoverished surrounding environment. When a scooter becomes overheated and stops functioning, the electric motor is unable to cool properly. If you experience overheating issues on your electric scooter, you should address the problem as soon as possible. To prevent this problem, you should regularly test your electric scooter for proper functionality.
To prevent overheating, never charge your e-scooter immediately after use. Wait at least an hour before charging your scooter battery to prevent the battery from overheating. Always use a reputable OEM-supplied charger to charge your scooter. Never use a cheaper, locally-manufactured charger. If you discover that the battery casing of your electric scooter has become damaged, contact the manufacturer for a replacement. Also, try not to leave the scooter in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. Make sure your scooter is always kept in a cool place.
A few of the most common causes of electric scooters to catch fire are the battery, charging cord, or the scooter itself. If these factors are present, the scooter will stop working. If you notice any sparks near the battery pack, unplug your charger and turn off the power switch immediately. Never ride an electric scooter that is overheating, as doing so may result in severe burns. In addition, electric scooters should never be used on hot pavement or in extremely humid weather.
As a result of this heat, the battery may experience thermal runaway, releasing hydrogen fluoride and high pressure gases. According to Wang et al., a study conducted in Japan reported that 90% of electric scooter burns occurred when the scooter was unattended and 10% when the scooter was not recharging. The temperature of lithium-ion batteries is extremely high and could result in a fire if it is not properly vented and cooled.
EV manufacturers are trying to develop technical solutions to reduce the risk of overheating. While Ola Electric’s video of an Ola Electric S1 Pro catching fire has gone viral, other EV makers are working with battery and component manufacturers to eliminate the risk of overheating. Overheating is a serious safety issue that could flatten India’s already-spiraling EV sales chart.
Short circuits
Over the past month, there have been over two dozen incidents of electric scooters catching on fire in India. The latest incident was reported in the state of Odisha, where a Hero Photon scooter caught fire while charging overnight. The company, which makes the electric scooters, claims that no one was injured in the accident. Despite the numerous incidents, the company says it does not believe the problem is limited to electric scooters.
The 224 cells in a single battery pack caught fire when water filled the top case. Luckily, the e-scooter was isolated and taken to safety. The fire was caused by short circuits and caused the battery pack to catch fire. Quick action by the servicing team prevented the accident from spreading further and did not damage the e-scooter. However, the servicing team discovered that the screws around the battery were changed. The different lengths of the screws were likely to have put pressure on the top panel of the battery.
While the majority of incidents occurred during summer, many manufacturers still don’t provide adequate cooling for the batteries. While the government of India is investigating the recent spate of electric scooter fires in India, most of these incidents were caused by faulty batteries. Battery fires usually occur as the result of short circuits in the battery cell. Short circuits in battery cells can lead to a sudden and uncontrolled spike in current.
Another major cause of fire in electric scooters is the use of lithium batteries. They are not tested to withstand extreme temperatures. The batteries in electric scooters contain lithium ions that move through a current collector. In extreme cases, they can even break or explode. The battery inside the scooter is made of two separate layers, the anode and the cathode. Keeping them in a cool and dry place is essential to preventing fires.
Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for the majority of e-scooter fires. They are not inherently unsafe, but their design and manufacturing processes increase the likelihood of a battery failure. Lithium-ion batteries can catch on fire during charging, during transit, or just sitting idle. It is these factors that cause most e-scooter fires. You can prevent a similar tragedy from happening by ensuring the batteries are safe and durable.
Stress on lithium-ion batteries
The majority of tragic scooter fires are caused by lithium-ion batteries. While lithium-ion batteries do not make electric scooters less safe, they do pose an increased fire risk. Lithium-ion batteries are complex and can catch fire while charging, riding, or just sitting idle. It’s the batteries’ design and operation that make them the most likely to catch fire.
When energised, lithium-ion cells expand. As they de-energise, they contract. When they expand, the chemical reactions inside the battery cells can ignite and cause a fire. If the scooter catches fire, occupants will be killed. The electric scooters in question must be halted immediately. If a fire does occur, a full-scale fire may break out.
In the event of a battery fire, a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery can cause an electrical short. An electrical short will cause a significant amount of current to flow between the positive and negative plates and release the stored energy in the battery within milliseconds. Moreover, battery packs typically contain thousands of cells that are tightly packed together. If one cell fails, the heat generated by the failed cell will travel to the next cell and cause the entire battery pack to become thermally unstable.
The problem occurs when lithium-ion batteries are not handled properly. The cells contain microscopic particles of metal that can short circuit within the battery cells, leading to a blaze. However, if the scooter is still charging, the lithium-ion battery will continue to operate normally. As with any battery, heat is the enemy of lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, manufacturers must take the battery’s safety into consideration.
Prithviraj set fire to his e-scooter by sprinkling petrol
A harrowing video aired on TV shows and social media accounts on Wednesday showed a man in Bangalore who accidentally set fire to his electric scooter by slathering petrol on it. The incident happened after Prithviraj was returning from a party. After the scooter battery died, he requested Ola to drop him at a specific place. The e-scooter was worth 1.5 lakhs. The owner of the scooter bought two litres of petrol from an associate and sprinkled it on his bike. Immediately, the scooter caught fire.
Prithviraj Gopinathan had been having issues with his Ola scooter since January. His scooter was supposed to charge itself after a couple of hours, but it stopped working suddenly. He was left stranded on the road at noon. He later called Ola’s customer care to complain, but to no avail. After the two hours, Prithviraj poured petrol over his electric scooter and set it on fire.
There are several other incidents of electric scooters catching fire, but this one is considered one of the worst. In Tamil Nadu, a man accidentally set fire to his electric scooter by sprinkling petrol on the vehicle while it was charging. Another incident occurred in the city of Chennai in which a man accidentally poured petrol on an e-scooter, and later died on the spot. In the same incident, his son was seriously injured and is still in a hospital.
The accident prompted the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, to recall all faulty EVs. He also asked companies to return faulty scooters. Gadkari said that safety standards are the most important thing in EVs. And while the EV industry has only recently started to function, he said that safety is the priority.
