Officials are concerned about the potential fire hazards posed by batteries in electric scooters and bikes, with reports of daily incidents.

Firefighters are issuing a cautionary message to the Australian public about the potential hazards of lithium battery fires. It has become a daily occurrence for fire crews to respond to calls related to these types of fires. The source of these incidents has been identified as lithium batteries found in e-scooters and e-bikes. What's even more alarming is that these explosions can occur not only when the devices are in use, but also during their shipment to local shops.

Darren Mallouk, part of the Queensland Fire Department's Investigation Unit, shared with 9News that the majority of the fires they have encountered involve the smaller batteries commonly used in e-scooters and e-bikes. The situation becomes even more concerning when thousands of these batteries are tightly packed and transported to Australia. Mike Gallagher, CEO of Ports Australia, explained the danger of these batteries on a ship. He compared them to sardines packed in a tin, except these sardines are highly flammable. If a fire were to break out, it would be nearly impossible for the crew to safely extinguish it.

In recent years, ships have become the primary mode of transportation for electric bikes and scooters to reach Australian shores. However, these shipments have not been without incidents. In 2022, a cargo ship carrying luxury vehicles, including electric cars, sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Last year, a fire on the Fremantle Highway ship resulted in the tragic death of a crew member. Captain Adrian Scales, an expert in transporting electric vehicles, was involved in managing the aftermath of the blaze. He shared that the crew was unable to fight the fire and had to abandon ship, leaving the vessel to burn.

The issue of EV fires on ships has raised concerns globally, but there are currently no established safety regulations or protocols on how to handle such situations. Mark Morrow from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority emphasized the need for prompt action. He warned that a fire of this nature could happen today in a port like Brisbane. The urgency to have a plan in place is critical. The upcoming summit in Brisbane will bring together experts to collaborate and develop a strategy to address the growing problem of ship fires caused by lithium batteries. This is a crucial step towards ensuring the safety of ships, crew members, and the general public.

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