E-Bike Battery Explosion

E-bike battery explosion injury in DC has officials urging caution about safe ownership

A man was critically injured after an electric bicycle explosion at a home in Northwest D.C. last Thursday. The battery caught fire at a home in the 700 block of Irving Street near Georgia Avenue. Now, D.C. Fire and EMS is out with a warning. D.C. Fire spokesman Vito Maggiolo said the e-bike’s battery was likely overcharged or charged with the wrong charger. He said these kinds of fires have happened before but this one is different.

“[This is the] first injury that our fire investigators can recollect that was directly caused by a fire that originated with an e-bike,” Maggiolo said. The man was seriously burned, but is now out of the hospital. “If you are going to charge them, if you can, avoid having them inside the house,” said Maggiolo. Maggiolo added if that’s not possible, at least make sure to never have the bike near the front door of your home or any other escape route in the case they catch fire and block your route out. Click here to read the full article on this unfortunate accident from wtop news.