Fire caused by mopeds on the rise

The story appears on

Page A4

December 20, 2013

Free for subscribers

By Chen Yingqian | December 20, 2013, Friday |

Print Edition

ELECTRIC bicycles, or mopeds, have killed six people in Shanghai this year after catching fire, authorities said yesterday.

As many as 190 fires were caused by electric bikes, a sharp rise from previous years, according to Shanghai Fire Prevention Bureau officials.

They said battery malfunction was among the top causes of the fires.

Electric bikes are generally used in daytime and have to be charged for at least six to eight hours at night.

Overcharging them is likely to cause a slow and undiscovered fire, authorities said.

Faulty battery, internal electrical circuit failure and a long-term overload of the electric bicycles are among the other causes for fire.

Two people were killed in Qingpu District this year due to a faulty electrical circuit.

Moped industry insiders said quality control and after-sales service can help prevent fires.

Metro Society