Recently, several fires have occurred when batteries for electric scooters and electric bicycles were charged. The consequences have meant major damage to buildings and danger to life.
Now the insurance industry wants to see clearer guidelines regarding how the batteries should be charged more safely.
– It should not be adjacent to a home, but preferably in separate spaces, says Staffan Moberg, lawyer Swedish Insurance.
The top four apartments are completely destroyed after the fire at Söderkulla in Malmö. The residents of the area find it difficult to accept that the fire is suspected to have started when an electric kick battery was being charged.
– People haven’t thought along those lines before. It is only now that it has really happened that you understand how incredibly serious it is when you charge the batteries and above all in your homes, says Magnus Jonsson, board member BRF Söderkulla.
Requires guidelines
Fires in so-called lithium-ion batteries, which are found in electric scooters and e-bikes, are difficult to extinguish. Hazardous gases are released and there is a risk of explosion.
Now the insurance industry wants to see clearer guidelines regarding how the batteries should be charged more safely. They turn to the Swedish Agency for Community Safety and Preparedness (MSB), the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority and the Housing Authority.
– What we lack is cooperation between these authorities and that they jointly go out with information campaigns, that they initiate to come up with solutions for how safe charging can take place, says Staffan Moberg, lawyer Swedish Insurance.
Most fires in electric scooters
In a short time, there have been three fires of this type in Malmö. In total, there have been 490 fires in the past five years, most of which start in electric scooters.
MSB’s advice is, among other things, to follow the supplier’s instructions, have CE-marked charging cords, do not charge damaged batteries and to charge under supervision.
Yvonne Näsman is manager of the fire and rescue unit at MSB. She finds it difficult to say whether this advice is sufficient. However, she sees an opportunity for MSB to help in other ways.
– We can help people to have fire protection at home, so that the progress of the fire may not be equivalent to what it would have been without it, says Yvonne Näsman.
Housing association is considering ban
In Malmö, the affected condominium association is considering banning charging in the home, and instead offering other alternatives.
– It could be, for example, charging cabinets in a basement as an offer if we possibly introduce a total ban, says Magnus Jonsson, board member BRF Söderkulla.