Another Burning Question

FDNY PSA on lithium-Ion batteries.

Yesterday a story broke in "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" concerning a fire that injured 38 people in an apartment fire in New York City. The story quotes FDNY Chief Fire Marshal, Daniel Flynn, as saying,"This is close to our 200th fire this year caused by lithium ion batteries from micro mobility devices. The fire was right behind the front door, we recovered at least five bikes from the apartment, "

Are we in danger from cheap, poorly designed electrified scooter and bicycle products?

Comments: I understand that New York City is immense and densely populated, but I think it underscores a big issue looming for us all with regard to inexpensive electrically powered scooters and eBikes. HPC's (Hybrid Powered Cycles) sold at department stores and direct to consumer by import companies are not being built to the same standards that law-abiding bicycle brands are held to. This means that safety is not always first. 

It also underscores how "micro-mobility devices" are in demand, and how consumers are not always able to afford the devices which are held to higher standards. Instead, they may fall prey to designs with specious designs like the electrically powered scooters described in the article. In my opinion, many, if not most, D2C HPC bikes are also prone to being devices that skirt safety concerns when it comes not only to mechanical soundness, but in their battery protocols and design for wiring harnesses. 

The FDNY provided this image to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

I recall when I worked at Andy's Bike Shop that we took in an electrified bike from a reputable former motorcycle brand (renamed for their HPC products) which needed a new battery and controller harness. The design required us to literally jam the loose harness wires into a cramped space with more force than you would like to see when dealing with wires. Even after installation, those wires had to have been up against the hydro-formed aluminum frame internally, and you know that those wires could vibrate and eventually scuff off their plastic insulation over time.

It was also notable, at least to my way of thinking, that this brand made a big deal about their motorcycle heritage, charged over 4K for the bike, and in my opinion, was a pretty suspect product which, by the way, wasn't adhering to the three class system as well concerning eBikes. So, will that bike be a big problem someday? Hard to say. There are so many ways that things can go wrong with these productss that it may not last long enough to be a fire hazard. 

On the other hand, I received a proposal, via e-mail, from a Chinese manufacturer of HPC bikes for a pretty low-brow, dual suspension "MTB" electric bike that they said they could make for me with my brand on it. (Note: I get these proposals all the time from various Chinese factories for all manner of things) The thing looked like a 1970's "mini-bike" crossed with dual suspension borrowed from an Unified Rear Triangle design, NEXT branded bike. It had a spindly steel frame with the signature triple-tree fork. A real boat anchor, and all with a battery and an electric hub motor. 

Mart bike electrified.

What is more, these bikes are not cheap. They can be 2k-4K pretty easily. While their parts are suspect in quality, perhaps these actually do have decent electronics. But if you dare to Google electric "mini-bike", like I did, you'll find plenty that will give you pause. And you just know these bikes are totally following every law to the letter. 

Yeah....

But let's give these a pass for now. What does alarm me are the "mart bikes" with electric motors. I am 99% sure these are equally as much "hot garbage" as their non-assisted versions are known to be. Will these cause issues with regard to being fire hazards? If I were a betting man, my money would be on the "yes" for that one. 

It has always evaded my understanding how it was that these obviously dangerous and nonviable bicycles were sold without incurring massive lawsuits. Now they've gone and slapped electric motors and Lithium-Ion batteries to them? This cannot be a good sign. 

This may be changed though. If enough property damage and injury is caused by these nefarious designs that have Lithium-Ion batteries, (cue the human sacrifices) it would be logical that the insurance industry would sound the alarm and this would begin a push-back against these cheap and dangerous toys. Obviously, the FDNY warnings are not enough to move that needle. I just hope that if/when these things get banned, the policy makers can distinguish between the good and the bad, and that the push-back won't declare all of these as being dangerous.