Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This video shows an electric moped and e-bike charging station going up in flames destroying dozens of vehicles within minutes.
The accident happened in Shenzhen City’s Bao’an District, which is in South China’s Guangdong Province, on 9th September at 6:28am local time.
Video taken by neighbouring residents shows scores of privately owned electric vehicles burning where they are parked.
Dark plumes of thick smoke rise between residential blocks as firefighters tackle the blaze, reportedly putting out roughly 30 minutes later.
They were not able to stop 68 light vehicles and three parked cars from being damaged, with images showing one saloon having been burned to its shell by the fire.
All the electric motorcycles and electric bicycles had been parked at the community charging station, where several had been plugged in.
For safety reasons, it is illegal to charge electric mopeds and e-bikes in homes, residential corridors or stairwells, leaving owners no choice but to leave their vehicles at the charging station.
According to a staff member of the company that manages to charging point, the fire is believed to have started from a single faulty battery.
The employee said they were investigating and would be able to single out the battery’s owner.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported after the blaze, which is still under investigation.
Electric motorcycles and bicycles – known commonly as e-bikes – are by far China’s most popular mode of urban transport this decade.
In 2016, the China Bicycle Association reported more than 200 million e-bikes on the road, owing to their low purchase prices as well as their relatively relaxed ownership and usage requirements.
However, in April this year, China introduced new laws governing the standards separating e-bike classification.
According to the legislation passed in May 2018, all new electric bicycles must now have pedal functions and cannot exceed speeds of 25 kph (15 mph).
They must weigh below 55 kilogrammes (120 lb), with restricted motor and battery capacity – 400 Watts and 48 volts respectively, reports said.
E-bicycles must also be tamper-proof and made using new fireproof charger protection standards.
Vehicles failing to meet these requirements are now classed as electric motorcycles, or electric mopeds or scooters, which require a registered number plate as well as a driving licence.
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