Across the country, electric scooter batteries are starting fires in apartment buildings, hallways, and homes — and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the number one factor making these fires so deadly is where people charge them. CPSC has documented fires from e-scooters and e-bikes that spread through entire apartment buildings within minutes, blocked evacuation routes, and killed people who could not escape. The specific hazard is not just defective batteries — it is batteries being charged in enclosed indoor spaces where a fire has nowhere to go.
What Makes Indoor Charging So Dangerous
Lithium-ion batteries can enter thermal runaway during charging — a self-sustaining reaction where a cell overheats, spreads heat to adjacent cells, and produces toxic gases and intense flames. When this happens in a hallway or common area, it can block the only exit from an apartment or home within seconds. When it happens in a living room or bedroom, flames can surround sleeping occupants before they wake.
CPSC has received reports of e-scooter fires including a fire at a Pittsburgh residential apartment building caused by a Swagtron SG-5 Swagger 5 Boost electric scooter, causing burn injuries and substantial property damage. The Swagtron scooter has been officially warned against by CPSC for fire and burn hazards.
Safe Charging Rules
- Never charge an e-scooter, e-bike, or hoverboard indoors in a hallway, stairwell, or exit route.
- Never charge these products overnight or when you are asleep.
- Always be present and awake when charging a lithium-powered device.
- Only use the charger that came with the product or a replacement explicitly approved by the manufacturer.
- Never leave a charging e-scooter unattended for extended periods.
- If a battery becomes hot, swells, or makes a hissing sound during charging, move it outside immediately and call 911.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Micromobility-Information-Center
