With forecasts showing that by 2026, the average household will contain around 33 devices powered by lithium-ion batteries, including e-scooters, e-bikes and portable power banks, Australians are urged to buy from trusted suppliers and follow safe charging practices.
Research to close the safety gap
IAG, Australia’s largest insurer whose brands include NRMA Insurance, CGU, WFI, ROLLiN’ and RACQ Insurance, is leading a research project with experts from QUT, EV FireSafe, Standards Australia and iMOVE.
The goal is to understand and reduce battery-related risks, inform national standards, and develop practical safety guidelines for everyday use. Early findings show fire risk rises significantly when batteries are damaged, exposed to saltwater flooding, charged incorrectly, or subjected to repeated impacts – a common issue with devices like e-bikes and e-scooters.
Shawn Ticehurst, head of the IAG Research Centre, says the rapid growth of Australia’s lithium-ion battery market is outpacing the development of safety standards.
“Consumers can easily purchase low-quality, often untested products online, and they aren’t getting the information they need about safe charging practices,” he said.
“By better understanding how battery condition and charging habits contribute to fire risk, we can help establish the guidelines needed to keep people safe.”
Learnings from New York Professor Joshua Watts, head of QUT’s Energy Storage Research Group (ESRG) and project partner with IAG, says Australia can learn from overseas examples of effective regulation.
“We recently met with the New York City Fire Department to understand their approach. Between 2021 and 2023, New York recorded nearly 30 fatalities and hundreds of injuries linked to lithium-ion battery fires,” Professor Watts said.
“To tackle the surge in fires, the city introduced strict safety measures and invested over $1 million in a public education campaign.
“Today in New York, retailers can no longer sell e-bikes or batteries unless they meet UL accreditation, a national safety standard. Refurbished batteries are banned, and retailers who repeatedly offend can be shut down.
“The measures have worked. By 2024, fatalities in New York had fallen to six.”
EVs safe, but smaller devices pose risk
While small battery-powered devices are sparking concern, batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) are proving to be much safer.
“There’s virtually zero fire risk if an undamaged EV is charged correctly,” Ticehurst said.
“EV battery fires are extremely rare – they have advanced Battery Management Systems that prevent overheating and overcharging, and the packs are built with strong, fire-resistant casings that stop heat from spreading.”
Towards safer use and disposal
Professor Watts says the research will not only inform safety standards but also address how to safely dispose of batteries reaching their end-of-life.
“We’re investigating whether older batteries pose greater fire risk, and how everyday charging and storage habits affect long-term safety,” he said.
“The waste and recycling industry estimated there are 12,000 fires each year in Australia, mainly in trucks and at waste facilities caused by improper disposal. Batteries power our modern lives, and their role will grow as we cut carbon. But without care, they can cause serious harm.”
iMOVE, Australia’s national centre for transport and mobility R&D, is also a partner in the project. Managing Director Ian Christensen said the research would help balance sustainability and safety. “Electrification is critical to cutting transport emissions,” he said.
“This work helps us understand and manage the unintended risks that come with more electric devices.”
The full research findings will be published during this year.