"Risks of Electric Mobility Device Battery Fires... Urgent Need for Institutional Improvements Such as External Charging Facilities"

640 Fires Related to Electric Mobility Devices in the Past 5 Years
7 Out of 10 Users Charge Batteries Indoors

Recently, as the number of users of electric mobility devices such as electric scooters and electric bicycles has increased, there have been a series of incidents involving fires caused by lithium-ion batteries during charging. Experts point out the urgent need for institutional improvements, such as the establishment of external charging facilities.

According to the National Fire Information System of the National Fire Agency on April 1, a total of 650 fires related to electric scooters and electric bicycles occurred over the past five years (2021-2025). In particular, the number of electric bicycle fires more than doubled, rising from 29 cases in 2024 to 61 cases in 2025.

However, South Korea currently lacks regulations on the charging of batteries and the installation of charging facilities for electric mobility devices. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency among electric mobility device owners, 69.2% (164 respondents) said they primarily charge batteries "indoors at home."

Electric scooter. The Asia Business Daily DB

As for the specific charging locations within the home, "entrance area" was the most common at 33.5% (55 respondents). Experts caution that if a battery thermal runaway accident occurs while charging at the entrance, the escape route could be blocked, potentially leading to severe casualties. Other locations included "living room" at 32.3% (53 respondents), "balcony" at 17.7% (29 respondents), and "bedroom" at 11.6% (19 respondents). Electric mobility device batteries, fire

Among those who reported charging batteries outside the home (30.8%, or 73 respondents), 58.9% (43 respondents) cited "public facilities" and 28.8% (21 respondents) listed "workplaces or schools" as specific locations.

According to the survey, 62.9% (149 respondents) recognized that "charging batteries at home is dangerous." The batteries used in electric mobility devices are among the largest energy storage devices found in household equipment, making it difficult to respond if a fire occurs due to thermal runaway. This is especially urgent in multi-family dwellings, where the damage can spread to other households.

In New York City, USA, residents are encouraged to charge electric mobility device batteries outside apartment buildings, and it is mandatory to install sprinklers in external charging facilities. Similarly, Beijing, China, strictly prohibits battery charging inside residential buildings and requires the establishment and use of separate external charging zones. In contrast, in South Korea, the infrastructure and specific safety regulations related to charging facilities remain inadequate.

Based on the results of this survey, the Korea Consumer Agency plans to recommend the installation of external charging facilities for electric mobility device batteries and the development of safety guidelines to relevant ministries and local governments.

A representative from the Korea Consumer Agency emphasized, "When charging batteries, avoid charging while sleeping and do not charge near entrances or emergency exits in the home," adding, "You should use only certified chargers with KC certification and never modify batteries arbitrarily."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.