China’s 300 Million E-Bikes Cause Alarming Number of Fires

The video screenshot shows a household in Tongzhou District, Beijing, who brought a lithium battery into the home to recharge on Sept. 20, 2021. The battery exploded and caught fire, killing the upstairs neighbors’ family of five Shawn Lin/The Epoch Times

China has the largest number of electric bicycles (e-bikes) in the world. However, the number of fire incidents caused by the e-bike batteries is alarming.

In recent years, e-bikes have become an important means of transportation in China due to their affordability and convenience. China’s CCTV, a Chinese state-owned media, reported that the annual sales volume of e-bikes exceeds 30 million, and the current number owned is close to 300 million.