How To Prevent Lithium-ion Ebike Battery Fires? Tips On Charging, Storage, Usage, And Stopping A Fire

Some folks have reported their lithium-ion batteries to catch fire or explode in rare cases, causing severe injury or property damage. These incidents often occur when the battery is damaged, overcharged, or exposed to high temperatures.

While there are ways to prevent lithium-ion ebike battery fires, understanding the basics of lithium-ion battery safety, including the leading causes of battery failure, can help you adopt measures to avoid it.

Understanding Lithium-ion Battery Safety 

Lithium-ion batteries are already popular for various applications. With their energy density and low self-discharge rate, they are ubiquitous power sources in modern life. These batteries consist of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte, with lithium ions moving between the two electrodes to generate an electrical current.

However, despite their widespread use, lithium-ion batteries also present specific safety challenges. One of the primary concerns is thermal runaways, which can occur if the battery overheats and causes a chemical reaction that generates even more heat, potentially leading to a fire or explosion.

Over the years, manufacturers have developed various design features and safety mechanisms to prevent thermal runaways and other safety issues. Some of these include temperature sensors, shutdown separators, and flame-retardant electrolytes. Proper storage, handling, and disposal of lithium-ion batteries are critical to minimizing safety risks.

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Pro Tips For Charging Your E-bike Battery

Electric bikes have revolutionized how we commute, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. They are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and offer a great way to stay active while reducing the impact of carbon emissions. However, to ensure that your e-bike battery lasts as long as possible, it's essential to know how to charge it properly. Whether you're a seasoned e-bike rider or a beginner, these tips will help you get the most out of your battery and ensure it stays in good condition.

The golden rule of e-bike battery maintenance is to charge your battery after every use. Leaving your battery partially charged for an extended period can cause damage to its cells and reduce its overall lifespan. Therefore, ensure you charge your battery immediately after every ride to keep it in good condition.

Using the correct charger is essential when charging your e-bike battery. Always use the original Himiway chargers. Using an incompatible charger can damage your battery or pose a safety risk. Additionally, ensure that the charger's voltage and amperage output match your battery's specifications.

Overcharging or undercharging your e-bike battery can cause irreversible damage and significantly reduce lifespan. Therefore, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for charging time and avoid leaving your battery on the charger for extended periods. Most batteries have a built-in protection mechanism that prevents overcharging. However, monitoring the charging process and disconnecting the charger as soon as the battery is fully charged is still essential.

If you don’t have to use your e-bike for an extended period, it is crucial to store your ebike correctly to prevent battery damage. The ideal storage temperature for most e-bike batteries is between 32°F and 68°F. Make sure to charge your battery to around 60% before storing it. This helps preserve the overall health of the battery. Additionally, avoid keeping your battery in extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, or humid environments.

Proper Storage Practices For Your Lithium-ion Battery 

Certain storage practices for lithium-ion batteries are essential to maintaining their health and longevity. Not adopting these practices can lead to reduced capacity, shorter lifespan, or even complete battery failure. Therefore, following these storage practices is essential to ensure that your battery remains healthy and functional when needed:

Exposure to extreme temperatures can cause permanent damage to the battery, resulting in a reduced capacity, shorter lifespan, or even complete failure. To prevent this, store your battery at a moderate temperature, ideally between 20°C and 25°C (68°F and 77°F). Avoid exposing the battery to direct sunlight or storing it in areas that experience extreme heat or cold, such as a car parked in direct sunlight during the summer.

Lithium-ion batteries are also sensitive to moisture. Therefore, storing them in a dry place, away from humid areas such as bathrooms or basements, is crucial. Exposure to water can lead to corrosion or short circuits, which can cause irreparable damage to the battery.

Storing your lithium-ion battery at a full charge can cause permanent damage to the battery's capacity and lifespan. Conversely, storing the battery at a complete discharge can cause irreversible damage. We recommend you store the battery at a charge level between 40% and 60%. This ensures the battery retains its capacity while preventing overcharging or complete discharge.

Regularly check your lithium-ion battery's charge level if you plan to store it for an extended period. This helps ensure the battery remains at the recommended storage level of around 50%. If the charge level drops below the recommended level, charge it to the ideal storage level to maintain capacity.

Different battery types may have specific storage requirements. Therefore, following Himiway's recommendations can help ensure the battery remains healthy and functional when reused. If you are unsure about the recommended storage practices for your battery, consult with a professional technician or the manufacturer's customer support.

Safe Usage of Your Lithium-ion Battery 

Lithium-ion batteries are a great energy source, but using them safely is crucial. By following these additional tips, you can help extend the life of your battery and prevent any potential safety hazards:

If you have a spare ebike battery, you can consider getting a built-in battery cover to protect your battery from physical damage. Drops, bumps, or knocks can damage the battery and cause it to malfunction.

Just like overcharging, over-discharging can also cause damage to the battery. Refrain from using your electric bike until it entirely runs out of power. Instead, recharge your battery when it reaches 20-30% capacity.

Lithium-ion batteries can generate heat while charging, which can ignite combustible materials nearby. Even though Himiway bikes are safe, it’s best to avoid charging your battery near papers, fabrics, or other flammable materials.

Exposure to direct sunlight can cause the battery to overheat and even explode. Keep your batteries away from windows or any other areas with direct sunlight.

Always use a voltage adapter that matches your bike's requirements. Using an adapter with a higher voltage output can cause the battery for ebike to overheat, leading to potential safety hazards. 

What To Do In Case Of An Emergency 

Even lithium-ion batteries can pose a safety risk when misused in an emergency. Therefore, knowing what to do with a lithium-ion battery in an emergency is important to prevent injury or damage.

Once the lithium-ion battery catches fire, it is important to act quickly to prevent it from spreading. If your charger is still connected to a power source, disconnect it immediately. Move the battery away from flammable materials and try to contain the fire with a fire extinguisher if available. But be sure to call emergency services if the fire seems uncontrollable.

If the lithium-ion battery leaks, do not touch the liquid, as it may be corrosive. If the liquid gets on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water. If the liquid gets in your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention.

If the battery becomes overheated, it may emit smoke or a foul odor. If this happens, immediately turn the device away from flammable materials. Allow the battery to cool down in a safe and well-ventilated area.

If a lithium-ion bike battery swells, do not attempt to puncture or open the battery. Move it away from flammable materials and let the electric bikes battery cool down in a safe and well-ventilated area. Once you notice a swelling battery, dispose of it and get a replacement.

Himiway Lithium-ion Battery Safety Features

Himiway electric bikes have various safety features to ensure their lithium-ion batteries' safe and reliable operation. Some safety features include:

The battery management system (BMS) in the Himiway lithium-ion battery prevents overcharging, which can lead to battery damage or even explosion.

The BMS also protects against over-discharging, which can cause irreversible battery damage and reduce lifespan.

The BMS monitors the e-bike battery's temperature and will shut down the system if it gets too hot or cold, preventing potential safety hazards.

The BMS ensures that each cell in the battery is charged and discharged evenly to prevent any cell from becoming overcharged or over-discharged.

The Himiway Rhino Dual Battery Off-road Electric Bike uses Dual Samsung lithium-ion batteries with a 48V nominal voltage and a capacity of either 15Ah*2 to offer the longest range performance in the United States. These batteries are designed specifically for use in electric bikes and have the following specifications:

Conclusion 

Whether you own a Himiway Zebra, Cruiser, or Himiway Escape, you can be sure of premium Samsung battery quality. Lithium-ion ebike batteries are an efficient and convenient way to power your e-bike, but they can pose a fire risk if not handled properly. Following the guidelines for safe charging, storage, and battery usage, you can minimize the risk of a fire or other emergency. If you suspect an emergency related to your ebike batteries, take immediate action and seek professional assistance.