E-scooter battery safety: charging, storage and warning signs

Lithium-ion batteries in e-scooters and e-bikes are now a leading cause of battery fires in Australian homes. Most fires start while charging, and most are preventable.

Charging

• Use the charger that came with the scooter (or one approved by the maker). An RCM mark shows a charger is registered for sale in Australia.
• Charge while you’re awake and nearby, on a hard surface, away from anything that burns — not in a bedroom or blocking your way out.
• Unplug when it’s full. Don’t charge a battery that is hot, damaged or has been in water.
• A smoke alarm where you charge is cheap insurance.

Warning signs — stop using it

• Swelling or a bulging case
• Heat, hissing or popping while charging
• A sweet or chemical smell, leaks or smoke
• Big loss of range, or it won’t hold a charge after a crash or a drop

Standards to look for

In NSW, e-scooters and their batteries must be certified (for example to AS/NZS 60335.2.114:2023, EN 17128 or UL 2272 for the scooter, and UL 2271 or AS/NZS 60335.2.114 for the battery) and carry an approval mark. Elsewhere it isn’t mandatory yet, but the same standards are a good sign. Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office advises asking for AS/NZS 60335.2.114:2023, a battery management system and an RCM-marked charger.

Disposal

Never put a lithium battery in the bin. Take it to a battery recycling drop-off — see battery recycling.

Record your battery and charger serials in your free EbikeMate Passport alongside the scooter’s serial.

Official sources

• E-scooter safety — Fire and Rescue NSW
• Safety standards for e-micromobility — NSW Fair Trading
• Using and charging e-scooters — Electrical Safety Office QLD
• E-bikes, e-scooters and other e-micromobility devices — ACCC Product Safety

This guide explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.