9 Safety Tips for Charging Electric Bike and Electric Scooter Batteries

Electric bicycles and motorcycles are currently very popular means of transportation because they are considered environmentally friendly and cost-effective for users.

After use, these vehicles will have to undergo a charging time to serve the next day’s travel, and to save time, many users will choose to charge their vehicles overnight. But this action carries many risks and can lead to explosions. Let’s go through 9 precautions when charging electric bike batteries to ensure safety.

1Causes of explosions when using electric motorcycles, bicycles

The first cause that can lead to explosions may come from the devices inside the electric vehicle.

During the charging process, the devices will generate heat and if the devices including batteries, poor-quality battery cells, unclear origins, or have been repaired and changed initial parameters,… it can affect the quality of the vehicle. This can cause the lifespan of the devices to decrease, swell and cause explosions.

Poor quality devices inside electric vehicles

Unsound power converter

In addition, electric vehicle explosions can also come from the malfunction of the power converter from AC to DC such as breakage, cracks, loose welding or poor insulation, causing leakage and short circuits.

External factors

Besides subjective factors from the vehicle, there are still some objective factors that could cause explosions when using electric vehicles.

This can occur due to wet charging plugs, overcrowded charging areas that hinder heat dissipation or old, damaged cables bitten by mice and insects, overcharging the device beyond full charge time.

External factors

29 precautions when charging electric bicycles, motorcycles to ensure safety

Safe electric bike charging

To charge the battery and use electric bicycles, motorcycles safely and minimize the risk of explosions, we need to take the following precautions:

• Choose quality electric vehicles with clear origins from reputable brands. Do not choose vehicles with low prices to save money without clear origins.
• Arrange the time to be able to charge the electric vehicle around 17 hours and unplug it before going to bed. At the same time, do not plug in the charger continuously for more than 8 hours or overnight.
• Choose a safe, well-ventilated charging space. Keep away from flammable objects or high heat sources nearby.
• Charge the battery and electric vehicle when they are almost depleted and at the appropriate and stable voltage level recommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not charge the battery immediately after using the vehicle, wait for 20 minutes for the battery to cool down before charging. If the vehicle is not used for a long time, charge it fully and then remove the battery and store it in a dry, cool place, avoid storing the battery in humid and high-temperature areas.
• Use genuine chargers with automatic shut-off function to ensure safety when using the vehicle, and prevent the battery from becoming too hot, overloading, and swelling. Also, do not charge the battery if it is cracked or swollen.
• Absolutely do not try to modify the structure, add accessories or devices as this can affect the wiring system and power of the vehicle.
• Regularly maintain the battery, battery cells, and wiring system of the vehicle approximately every 3 months to be able to timely detect damage such as swelling, cracks and replace them.
• After cleaning the vehicle, immediately wipe dry the battery, battery cells, and brakes before starting the vehicle again. If returning from the rain, it is advisable to park the vehicle in a dry place to dry the vehicle and check if water has entered the battery and battery cells.

Precautions when charging electric bicycles and motorcycles

3What to do in the event of a short circuit, fire caused by electric vehicle batteries?

When discovering the electric vehicle becomes abnormally hot, emits smoke, or catches fire, the first thing we need to do is quickly cut off the power in that area.

Next, raise the alarm to evacuate everyone around and contact the fire department to report the situation of the fire caused by the electric vehicle so that the firefighters can devise a rescue plan in a timely manner.

In addition, never attempt to extinguish the fire, smoke or salvage the situation by spraying water into the battery of the electric vehicle. The reason is that the battery inside the electric vehicle contains lithium, once this substance comes into contact with water, it will react and produce hydrogen gas, which can cause widespread explosions.

What to do in the event of a short circuit, fire caused by electric vehicle batteries?

Above is the article about 9 precautions when charging electric bicycles and motorcycles to ensure safety. Hopefully, this has helped you learn valuable information to apply in your daily life.