Service launches 'Take Charge' campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of lithium-ion batteries

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service are asking their communities to 'Take Charge' and know how to keep their electrical bikes and scooters safe.

The safety campaign, which is running until January 2024, comes amidst a national increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, often found in electrical items. Lithium-ion batteries are a common part of everyday life and are used in a wide range of applications but unfortunately, not all of them are safe.

The increased use of e-scooters and e-bikes, especially in Nottingham City Centre, has highlighted a concern and we want to prevent fire fatalities from occurring.

If a battery is going to catch fire, the likely cause is thermal runaway, where a battery experiences an increase in temperature that eventually leads to cell short-circuiting or disintegration that can spark a fire.

Fire crews from across Nottinghamshire have attended a number of fires locally, which have been caused by batteries, with one incident leaving a casualty with severe burns.

If lithium-ion batteries aren't handled and cared for correctly, they can become extremely dangerous causing catastrophic damage or injuries.

The aim of the 'Take Charge' campaign is to raise awareness of these dangers, and ensure our communities are following our safety advice to keep themselves, and their families, safe:

• Do not charge batteries overnight
• Never charge your e-bikes or e-scooters near escape routes
• Always use the charger provided by the manufacturer
• Do not charge or handle damaged batteries
• Do not attempt to tamper or fix lithium-ion batteries
• Dispose of old or damaged lithium-ion batteries at your nearest battery recycling bank

To read more about e-scooter and e-bike safety, visit our website. Alternatively, stay safe by reading our electrical safety tips.