The Numbers Are Alarming

If you own an e-bike or e-scooter in Australia, the fire risk is no longer something you can afford to ignore. Lithium-ion battery fires have been escalating year on year, and the data from 2024 and 2025 paints a confronting picture.

• NSW: Fire and Rescue NSW recorded lithium-ion battery fires at a rate of 5.7 per week in 2024, up from 5.2 per week the year before. Of 303 lithium-ion incidents statewide, 106 involved e-micromobility devices.
• Western Australia: DFES reported 166 lithium battery fires in 2024 — a record — destroying homes, damaging rubbish trucks, and even sparking bushfires.
• South Australia: MFS callouts to lithium battery fires increased nearly tenfold over five years. In the first half of 2025, they had already surpassed half of the previous year's total.
• Queensland: At least six lives were lost from lithium battery fires in 2025, compared with zero the previous year. Fire investigators warned the true figure may be higher.

In February 2025, Fire and Rescue NSW responded to four separate e-bike and e-scooter fires across Sydney in just 12 hours — bringing the total that week to 11 incidents. In one case in Sadlier, two men were injured after an e-scooter battery exploded in a home — one from burns and the other from flying shrapnel.

Australia Is Cracking Down — New Laws from 2025 Onwards

Federal and state governments are now responding to this growing crisis with a wave of new legislation and enforcement measures.

NSW: Mandatory Standards & Certification

Since February 2025, all e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards, and e-skateboards sold in NSW must meet prescribed safety standards under the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act. Key milestones include:

• February 2025: Mandatory safety and information standards came into effect for all lithium-ion e-micromobility products sold in NSW.
• February 2026: Every new e-bike must carry a permanent certification label on the frame. Fines of up to $825,000 apply for corporations selling non-compliant products.
• March 2026: NSW adopted the European safety standard EN15194, with anti-tampering protections and stricter battery, electrical, and fire-safety requirements.
• November 2025: Converted e-bikes (retrofitted with motor kits) were banned from Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, and Metro services due to fire risks.

NSW Police also have expanded powers to seize and crush illegal high-powered e-bikes, with roadside compliance checks using portable speed-testing devices.

Queensland: Nation-Leading Reforms

Following a parliamentary inquiry that received over 1,200 submissions and produced 28 recommendations, Queensland has accepted all of them. The reforms — described by Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg as "nation-leading" — include requiring riders to hold at least a learner's licence, imposing age restrictions for under-16s, tighter import rules, and clearer legal distinctions between compliant and illegal devices. Over 6,000 people presented to Queensland emergency departments with e-mobility injuries between 2022 and 2025.

National Direction

The Federal Government has reinstated EN 15194 as the national standard to block non-compliant imports. Major insurer IAG (NRMA Insurance, CGU, RACQ) is also leading a research project with QUT and Standards Australia to develop formal national safety guidelines for lithium-ion batteries.

Why Traditional Fire Equipment Won't Cut It

Standard ABC or CO₂ fire extinguishers may temporarily knock down the flames from a lithium battery fire, but they cannot address thermal runaway and they won't prevent reignition. These fires require equipment specifically engineered for lithium-ion chemistry.

Fire and Rescue NSW data from 2022–2024 shows not a single mainstream brand (Giant, Trek, Shimano, Bosch) appeared in fire incident lists. The overwhelming majority of fires involved non-compliant, modified, or unbranded batteries. But regardless of your e-bike's quality, the risk exists — and you need equipment that matches the threat.

Who Needs This?

E-bike and e-scooter owners — This is where Australia's fire risk is growing fastest. Even if your device is fully compliant, keeping a dedicated fire blanket near your charging area is a simple, affordable safeguard that could save your home.

Apartment and strata residents — If you live in a building where neighbours charge e-bikes in common areas or garages, you're exposed to a fire risk that traditional building systems weren't designed to handle. NSW strata reforms from July 2025 mean more EV charging in residential buildings is inevitable — and with that comes shared responsibility.

Businesses, fleet managers, and facility operators — You have a duty of care to provide appropriate fire safety equipment for the specific risks in your environment. Many insurers are already beginning to require EV-specific safety equipment, which may impact premiums and compliance requirements.

Charging Safety Tips from Fire & Rescue NSW

• Never charge in exits or anywhere that would block your escape route
• Don't charge while sleeping or when you're not home
• Charge on hard, non-combustible surfaces like concrete or tiles
• Always use the charger that came with your device — never mix and match
• Disconnect once fully charged
• Stop using any battery that is swelling, bulging, leaking, or overheating
• Ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home
• Have a home evacuation plan in place

Be Prepared, Not Scared

E-bike and e-scooter fires are still statistically uncommon — studies show EVs have fewer fires per vehicle than petrol cars. But when lithium battery fires do happen, they are more severe, faster-spreading, and far harder to control than conventional fires. The cost of being unprepared can be devastating: destroyed homes, severe injuries, and tragically, lives lost.

For $165, our EV Fire Blanket gives you a purpose-built, tested, and rapidly deployable tool that could protect your property — or save a life. That's a small price for peace of mind.