TTC proposes winter ban on e-bikes and e-scooters over fire hazard risk | CBC News

Oct 23, 2024

The TTC is proposing a seasonal ban on e-bikes and e-scooters each year, as safety-related concerns increase over lithium-ion battery powered devices.

It is recommending prohibiting e-bikes and e-scooters across the transit system during the winter season from Nov. 15 to April 15 of each year, due to the current lack of regulation and safety concerns.

The heightened measures come after an e-bike caught fire on a subway train at Sheppard-Yonge subway station in December last year.

A man suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the fire. No one else was injured.

The investigation by Toronto Fire Services indicated that the fire was the result of the failure of the lithium-ion battery that powered the e-bike. The battery within the e-bike went through "thermal runaway", which occurs when too much heat builds up inside the battery due to damage, malfunction or misuse, leading to explosions or fires.

The manufacturer had advised that their e-bikes were not intended to be used in adverse weather conditions, which includes operating it where snow, ice or road salt is present, the TTC said.

E-bike battery fire engulfs Toronto subway car

"Fluctuating temperatures can cause condensation and lithium plating, increasing the likelihood of short circuits and fires," the TTC said in its report.

"The difficulty in verifying battery integrity and exposure to road conditions, such as salt or de-icing compounds during winter, further heightens these risks."

The ban would not affect people with disabilities using electric wheelchairs or other mobility devices which are powered by lithium-ion batteries.

People travelling with non-electric bicycles on the TTC would also not be impacted.

The TTC noted that there may be a small financial impact due to reduced ridership by e-bike and e-scooter riders, but the impact was unknown at this time.

The move follows Metrolinx launching a crack down on some e-bikes on its GO Trains in March, saying all bikes need to be "UL" or "CE" certified.

"CE" stands for Conformité Européenne certification, which signifies that products sold particularly in Europe have been assessed to meet high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements, according to the European Union.

Meanwhile, "UL" stands for a certification by the Underwriters Laboratories Of Canada, an independent organization that conducts product safety testing, certification, and inspection.

Lithium-ion fires have been a growing concern as there has been an increase in fires provincewide.

According to Toronto Fire Services, in 2022, there were 29 fires in Toronto originating from lithium-ion batteries, growing to 55 the following year — a nearly 90 per cent increase.

Samritha Arunasalam is a senior writer for CBC News based in Toronto. She has previously worked at Reuters as a technology correspondent and digital journalist. Samritha holds a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, Wales. You can reach her at [email protected]