"Conversion kits to blame in 40% of ebike fires, says London Fire Brigade"

Are 60% of ebike fires caused by ready made "standard" ebikes?

Conversion kits to blame in 40% of ebike fires, says London Fire Brigade

The kits are not regulated like standard ebikes, and can be lethal when used with incorrect batteries and chargers

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/conversion-kits-to-blame-in-40-of-ebike-fires-says-london-fire-brigade

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66497800

Edited August 18, 20232 yr by guerney

The headline from cycling weekly must be wrong? The BBC report:

"It comes as the LFB recorded 93 e-bike and 18 e-scooter fires this year - averaging one every two days.

"It's approaching about 40% of fires have been down to conversion kits," he said. "

40% of "fires", not ebike fires?

40% of 112 fires = 45 kits. It very possible.

Just look how prevalent are the triangular frame batteries in the photos of ebike fires. They are not factory built bikes.

Are 60% of ebike fires caused by ready made "standard" ebikes?

Indeed, if 60% of eBike fires are caused by ready built, regulated, blah, blah, eBikes then maybe they should be banned as clearly the regulations dont work.

Just look how prevalent are the triangular frame batteries in the photos of ebike fires.

I wonder if they only publish photographs of fires caused by kits? The media do seem to be averse to highlighting brand names these days.

Indeed, if 60% of eBike fires are caused by ready built, regulated, blah, blah, eBikes then maybe they should be banned as clearly the regulations dont work.

Rightly or wrongly, I feel 20% safer with my conversion.

How about asking the LFB under FOI?

There's nobody defending conversion kits from media trashing. It really wouldn't surprise me if someone say, profiting from selling conversion kits, or someone employed by such submitted that FOI request - trouble is, if aversion to mentioning brand names extends to the LFB when recording details, that information could be absent.

Indeed, if 60% of eBike fires are caused by ready built, regulated, blah, blah, eBikes then maybe they should be banned as clearly the regulations dont work.

I rather think that 60% of fires are not caused by Bosch / Yamaha / Shimano powered bikes.

If that were the case then the German language forums where this type of bike is more prevalent would be full of it.

Where I live 95% plus of ebikes are Bosch etc (hub motors would melt), the only fire I have seen in the press was a Chinese type ebike.

Are 60% of ebike fires caused by ready made "standard" ebikes?

 

 

Conversion kits to blame in 40% of ebike fires, says London Fire Brigade

 

The kits are not regulated like standard ebikes, and can be lethal when used with incorrect batteries and chargers

 

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/conversion-kits-to-blame-in-40-of-ebike-fires-says-london-fire-brigade

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66497800

That's a good headline, but what does it mean? If 90% of all ebikes in London are conversions, it means converted ones are less likely to catch fire. If 40% are conversions, then they're equally likely to catch fire. Without knowing what the numbers are, that headline is meaningless.

More lazy journalism attention grabbing clickbait..

'Conversion kits to blame in 40% of ebike fires, says London Fire Brigade'

What nonsense, ebikes kits cannot catch fire, what headline should say is:

'Batteries/Chargers used in Conversion kits to blame in 40% of ebike fires, says London Fire Brigade'

Another opportunity to educate the public missed....when will they learn?

I rather think that 60% of fires are not caused by Bosch / Yamaha / Shimano powered bikes.

If that were the case then the German language forums where this type of bike is more prevalent would be full of it.

Well unless there is some other type of eBike, if 40% of eBike fires are caused by conversion kits, then 60% must be caused by manufactured eBikes.

However the figures are meaningless unless you know what the percentage ratio of eBikes in use is, conversion kit bikes versus manufactured eBikes.

If the ratio of eBikes in use was 50% conversion kits and 50% manufactured, then conversion kits would be less likely to catch fire.

But lets not let accuracy and reality get in the way of a good headline.

But lets not let accuracy and reality get in the way of a good headline.

Not so much inaccurate as meaningless.

Not so much inaccurate as meaningless.

Indeed, and so meaningless for those who can think a bit, is that you do wonder if there is a deliberate agenda to decieve the masses .......

Well unless there is some other type of eBike, if 40% of eBike fires are caused by conversion kits, then 60% must be caused by manufactured eBikes.

 

However the figures are meaningless unless you know what the percentage ratio of eBikes in use is, conversion kit bikes versus manufactured eBikes.

 

If the ratio of eBikes in use was 50% conversion kits and 50% manufactured, then conversion kits would be less likely to catch fire.

 

But lets not let accuracy and reality get in the way of a good headline.

There is a huge difference between a manufactured from a kit type bikes (this will include a lot of the 1000W bikes bought on Amazon etc riden by delivery riders)and the likes of Bosch etc.

you do wonder if there is a deliberate agenda to decieve the masses .......

I'm sure those who set agendas are well aware of the propensity of the masses for deceiving themselves.

After all, we got to where we are by democratic choice.

.

I'm sure those who set agendas are well aware of the propensity of the masses for deceiving themselves.

 

After all, we got to where we are by democratic choice.

.

Tell me about it;)

There is a huge difference between a manufactured from a kit type bikes (this will include a lot of the 1000W bikes bought on Amazon etc riden by delivery riders)and the likes of Bosch etc.

Whilst there may be a particular number of eBike fires from conversion kit eBike kits, does that imply that all conversion kit eBike kits are more likely to cause fires ?

After all, we got to where we are by democratic choice.

True but then the Boris saga is a classic case on them that getting elected decieving the people who elect them.

Whilst there may be a particular number of eBike fires from conversion kit eBike kits, does that imply that all conversion kit eBike kits are more likely to cause fires ?

Of course it doesn't but the reality is that correctly designed systems have multiple layers of safety when it comes to potential faults likely to cause a fire. Relying on a charger and connector that could have any voltage is madness.

Relying on a BMS alone to dissipate the heat that is caused when a chargers voltage is just .5V too high and all of the cells are at capacity leaving the balance resistors to heat the whole pack is madness too.

More lazy journalism attention grabbing clickbait..

 

'Conversion kits to blame in 40% of ebike fires, says London Fire Brigade'

 

What nonsense, ebikes kits cannot catch fire, what headline should say is:

 

'Batteries/Chargers used in Conversion kits to blame in 40% of ebike fires, says London Fire Brigade'

 

Another opportunity to educate the public missed....when will they learn?

???

It doesn't say e bikes catch fire - it says "conversion kits are to blame" which includes the batteries and chargers which is what I think you are saying? Where is the mis-information?

It's not down to conversion kits because they are as safe as proprietary bike, the issue is the numb nut using an incorrect charger or charging the battery incorrectly, dare we say reverse charging and bypassing the safety features within or simply the wrong voltage charger.

I expect there is a fastfood motorbike forum which these guys use and from hearsay because numb nut A has done it all the numb nuts are likely to follow suit because numb nut A used a higher current rated charger so could do more deliveries .

I expect there is a fastfood motorbike forum which these guys use and from hearsay because numb nut A has done it all the numb nuts are likely to follow suit because numb nut A used a higher current rated charger so could do more deliveries .

This is my theory too. The delivery guys need to charge their batteries quickly. Like many on this forum (dig), they have no idea how a battery or BMS work. One of them figures out that somebody on Battery University has shown that you can charge a cell at 5 amps, so they get a 20 amp charger for their 4P battery, and all their mates and colleauges start copying it.

Look at posts #5 & #8 here:

https://forums.electricbikereview.com/threads/why-arent-there-quick-chargers-for-ebike.31334/

Edited August 18, 20232 yr by saneagle

???

It doesn't say e bikes catch fire - it says "conversion kits are to blame" which includes the batteries and chargers which is what I think you are saying? Where is the mis-information?

Nope, a conversion kit is what is says it is, a conversion kit so motor/controller/display/PAS/throttle/ebrake etc., no battery/charger....

I've never seen a kit that comes with a battery/charger because really they don't exist...you might see some shady dealers offering 'bundles', (kits+battery), most reputable dealers will offer a kit and a choice of batteries that are suitable depending on your needs or point you in right direction.

Edited August 18, 20232 yr by portals

Nope, a conversion kit is what is says it is, a conversion kit so motor/controller/display/PAS/throttle/ebrake etc., no battery/charger....

 

I've never seen a kit that comes with a battery/charger because really they don't exist...you might see some shady dealers offering 'bundles', (kits+battery), most reputable dealers will offer a kit and a choice of batteries that are suitable depending on your needs or point you in right direction.

Quote from Bikeradar site - "An electric bike conversion kit will include the motor to drive you along and the battery to power it. It also needs to include the apparatus to control the power output level. This usually takes the form of a bar-mounted display. "

Therefore for the general public, a battery and charger is part of the kit and so no need to go further in the headline

The fires we here of in the very recent last couple of years are not down to kits but the poor knowledge of the cowboy bodgers fitting them they are simply mismatching battery/controllers/wiring or simply using a risky or incompatible charging process for said battery.

This forum has been going for along time and in the early days much of the talk was about the keen shed builder and kits , there is no talk of fires due to mismatched or wrong charging processes because folks followed the knowledge and built stuff safely.

It appears with the advent of fast charging and higher power illegal systems that we see issues, firstly it stemmed from the US and then the bodgers copy the yanks . To many fake tube viewers and other cowboys on arious websites giveing very poor info.

Thankfully I believe because of the very good advice given on this forum(whether or not it is all followed) we haven't had member report a fire on their own bike , is a testament of how to build or match components correctly.

Though of late their are more dodgy postings of irregular charging or reverse charging processes that are asking for trouble.