Your battery safety policies should address your building’s unique risk profile
Micromobility batteries can pose a serious fire risk. But the risk level is different for every property.
Some factors increase the likelihood of a battery fire — like non-certified e-bikes, e-scooters, or e-skateboards, damaged batteries, the number of devices, and unsafe charging practices.
Other factors determine how severe a fire becomes — like where devices are stored and charged, a building's age and materials, and whether you have sprinklers.
The higher your risk, the more you'll need to intervene
A new building with a handful of high-quality, certified micromobility devices has a completely different risk profile than an older building with many lower-quality devices stored in personal spaces.
Counterintuitively, bans can increase risk
Numerous buildings with e-bike and e-scooter bans have experienced serious battery fires. Without strong enforcement, bans can actually make things worse — people hide batteries in dangerous places like under beds, in closets, and near exits, making fires more severe.
Two properties. Two very different policies. Both reduce risk
Property A allows indoor charging and storage of certified devices — paired with a device inspection & registration system, and a robust safety education program. More oversight, but residents charge conveniently at home.
Property B prohibits indoor charging and storage, instead installing outdoor charging infrastructure. With batteries away from occupied spaces, there's less need for extensive engagement with device owners, but a bigger upfront lift.
The answer is a layered, customized policy
Reducing risk comes from combining interventions across user education, equipment standards, charging practices, storage locations, device registration, and enforcement — tailored to your risk profile, your community, and your available resources.
Policy Builder helps you find the right approach
Electric Avenue's new tool guides you through a step-by-step decision-making process, helping you weigh the tradeoffs between different interventions based on your specific circumstances.
