DIY e-bike battery fixes linked to deadly fires in NSW, inquest finds
A New South Wales inquest has identified homemade lithium-ion battery repairs, often guided by YouTube videos, as the cause of several recent fires, including two fatalities.
The NSW inquest, resumed this week after starting last December, focused on four lithium-ion battery fires tied to micro-mobility devices. Deputy State Coroner Kasey Pearce heard testimony that many of the incidents stemmed from backyard repairs inspired by YouTube tutorials, with hobbyists sourcing components from eBay. Fire and Rescue NSW investigators described the modifications as unregulated and dangerous, noting that eight fires they examined involved such DIY work.
Victims included a man who survived 40 % body burns after a repaired battery ignited, a delivery driver who suffered 20 % burns, and two women who died when a mismatched battery repair exploded in a townhouse. Experts warned that battery blasts can generate temperatures of 900 °C within minutes and hurl cells up to 40 m, and data show roughly six lithium-ion battery fires occur weekly in the state. The hearing is scheduled to conclude by the end of next week.
Why it matters
Unsafe DIY battery repairs pose a growing fire risk to the public and highlight the need for stricter regulation.
In this story
