“Lithium-ion batteries bought as a part of so-called e-bike conversion kits are usually of a considerably inferior high quality and development when in comparison with the battery packs manufactured and put in in purpose-built e-bikes”, Mr Potter wrote in his report.
“Lithium-ion batteries bought as a part of e-bike conversion kits are usually bought/equipped with no charger, thereby growing the chance of an unsuitable charger being bought and used.
“Chargers on the market on on-line marketplaces, specifically, usually fail to satisfy applicable requirements. On this case, the charger purported to hold the European ‘CE’ mark, which ought to be a sign that the product conforms to European well being, security and environmental safety requirements; nevertheless, the Hearth Investigation Officer famous that the mark was barely totally different and subsequently not real. It was used as a substitute to indicate ‘Chinese language Export’.
“The presence of common charging connectors throughout batteries of various voltages means that there’s a important threat that over-rated chargers could be inadvertently linked to decrease energy batteries, which was the case within the hearth that led to Mr Lee’s demise.
“There may be at present no British or European (e.g. BSI or PAS) customary particular to e-bike conversion kits and/or chargers and consequently it’s comparatively simple for folks to purchase, significantly from on-line marketplaces, e-bike conversion kits and/or lithium-ion batteries that aren’t of adequate high quality or in any other case not of an applicable customary to cost safely.
“There may be an elevated threat of individuals mixing and matching lithium-ion batteries with chargers that carry a unique voltage score.
“When a lithium-ion battery is charged utilizing a charger with a unique voltage score, this will result in thermal runaway and catastrophic failure of the battery – a build-up of warmth, failure of one of many cells inside the battery, adopted by a series response because the remaining cells fail, all of which may occur in a short time and explosively with the emission of sparks and poisonous, flammable vapours.”
