Authorities issue e
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Authorities issue e

Jul 08, 2023

Authorities have issued a hot weather warning to people using electric scooters after two children were involved in a random combustion in remote Western Australia.

The pair were riding an electric scooter in Marble Bar earlier this month when it is believed to have caught fire.

Marble Bar Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services attended and said no one was injured.

Volunteers using a thermal camera claimed the fire reached temperatures of 500 degrees Celsius.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services fire investigation officer Mark Hayes said the incident was likely caused by the vehicle's power source which could pose a significant fire risk.

"It's not so much the scooter, but the lithium ion battery. They aren't that robust," Mr Hayes said.

"The scooter had two kids on it and they were riding around on streets that aren't as well-paved as Perth's.

"I would think the damage was done to the battery by it being jostled around inside the case."

Marble Bar — famously known as Australia's hottest town — has reached up to 49 degrees Celsius in the height of summer.

Mr Hayes recommended people refrain from riding an e-scooter in hot weather as firefighters regularly responded to e-scooter fires.

"The chemistry inside a battery, the heat of the road and the heat of the sun, will certainly help [a lithium battery] combust," he said.

He said e-scooter owners were also advised to regularly monitor the condition of the battery as an uncharged or lower quality product could be more susceptible to combustion.

"The first thing we recommend is to, when you first purchase your item, is to make sure the battery is fully charged," he said.

"They are always half charged in transport for safety sake, but jumping on the device straight after purchasing will damage the battery and you will increase the risk of that battery catching fire."

The warning comes as northern Australia prepares for the oncoming extreme summer temperatures.

Beam Mobility launched 300 shared electric scooters to the streets of Broome in April as part of a year-long trial.

During summer months, Broome maximum temperatures frequently exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

Beam spokesperson Michelle Leong said safety measures were in place.

"In regards to the higher temperatures in a city like Broome, the batteries that we utilise are built to withstand high weather temperatures," Ms Leong said.

"On average, batteries are swapped 2-3 times per week, and any faults are picked up by staff trained to recognise abnormalities."

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