On February 25th, news broke of a fire in a residential community in Nanjing, resulting in 15 fatalities and 44 injuries, all caused by an electric bicycle.
The incident sparked widespread attention online and understandably left many deeply saddened. In the community, one often sees notices and announcements warning against indoor charging of electric bikes to prevent fire hazards and ensure fire safety.
However, the misuse of electric bikes persists, with instances of them occupying indoor corridors, stairwells, emergency exits, and being charged overnight indoors or through outdoor makeshift wiring, along with various uncertified batteries and chargers. The chaotic charging of electric bikes remains a common sight.
But why can't electric bikes simply be charged at home? Recently, the Shanxi Fire Department released a video demonstrating the dangers of electric bike fires through a series of experiments. Within 5 seconds, flames can erupt from the surface of the battery. Within 30 seconds, toxic smoke from the fire can engulf an entire room or corridor, and within 90 seconds, temperatures can soar to 200℃. After 3 minutes, the fire intensifies, reaching temperatures as high as 1000 degrees.
Toxic smoke rises up stairwells at a rate of 3 to 5 seconds per floor due to the chimney effect, which is a primary reason for casualties in electric bike fires. Therefore, it's crucial to never charge electric bikes in stairwells or indoor corridors.
