Food delivery firms join push to reduce e-bike battery fire risks

Representatives from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and SafeWork NSW have spent several months meeting food delivery businesses, including Uber Eats and DoorDash. The companies have agreed to educate riders about safe e-bike storage and charging, and to include battery safety messages in staff newsletters and induction processes in several languages. SafeWork NSW inspectors have also been conducting safety compliance activities with food delivery platforms to improve awareness and rider safety.

The engagement follows several serious incidents. On December 3 last year, an e-bike explosion at an Annandale apartment building sent three food delivery riders to hospital, including one who suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body. Firefighters also tackled a large fire at a Croydon e-bike repair factory on January 5 this year. Late last month, a fire at a Chippendale e-bike repair shop forced 50 people to evacuate.

FRNSW has explained to delivery businesses that damaged, compromised or overheated lithium-ion batteries can ignite and threaten lives. Sydney-based e-bike fleet management business Zoomo has also joined the initiative, bringing riders together to hear from FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell and SafeWork NSW. Zoomo leases more than 10,000 e-bikes worldwide, including bikes used by 600 food delivery riders in NSW.

Commissioner Fewtrell reported 165 lithium-ion battery fires in NSW in 2022, 272 in 2023 and 131 so far this year. Of this year's fires, 35 involved micromobility devices such as e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards. He explained that damaged, overcharged or poor-quality battery cells can trigger thermal runaway, in which an overheating cell sets off a dangerous chain reaction. Warning signs can include popping or crackling sounds and hissing toxic gas before an explosion. He said the extreme heat can require firefighters to immerse devices in water for days to cool them and prevent re-ignition.

The Commissioner also pointed to 18 lithium-ion battery-related deaths in New York in 2023, warning about fires in high-rise buildings where burning e-bikes have blocked emergency exits. Earlier this year, two people died in what appeared to be NSW's first lithium-ion battery-related fatalities. “We are so pleased the food delivery firms and leading e-bike supplier have joined us in recognising the risks and safe-guarding their workforces,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib described the engagement with delivery drivers as an important step in building awareness of battery risks. He urged consumers to buy batteries from reputable retailers, avoid overcharging and not leave devices charging unattended overnight or in places where they could block an emergency exit. FRNSW also recommends installing and checking smoke alarms in all homes and has established an e-bike and e-scooter battery safety webpage to support the industry engagement.

Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin said the regulator regularly conducts compliance activities with NSW Police covering food delivery riders and platforms. These activities address safety laws, including requirements for riders to wear personal protective equipment and undertake training. He said rider safety extends from leaving for work to returning home, including safely storing equipment, and urged platforms and riders to use quality, properly maintained e-bikes without cutting corners on fire safety. SafeWork NSW provides road safety and other rider risk fact sheets in English, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Spanish.

Zoomo founder and chief executive Mina Nada said the business prioritises teaching riders and staff how to store and handle e-bike batteries safely. He identified illegal bikes as the leading risk and said riders often do not understand the dangers of modified e-bikes with increased speeds and unsafe batteries. He called for greater awareness of those vehicles and the suppliers providing them.

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