Lithium-ion battery safety: what to check before you buy or sell

Almost every serious e-rideable fire traces back to one of three things: a battery that was never built to a recognised standard, a charger that did not belong with it, or a pack that was damaged and kept in service anyway. All three are avoidable, and all three are things you can check in a second-hand purchase.

Certification is the first filter

A compliant e-rideable, its battery and its charger are each tested against recognised standards, and carry marks and approval numbers saying so. Our rules and battery safety reference lists the standards that apply to each product type.

In New South Wales this stopped being advice and became law: safety and information standards for e-micromobility vehicles, batteries and chargers have been fully enforced since 1 February 2026. Testing, certification and marking requirements apply, approval numbers must be supplied, and approval marks must appear on the product and be shown in online listings. The requirements expressly extend to second-hand sale, hire and lease, and penalties reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Nationally, work is underway on consistent standards. Wherever you are, treat an uncertified battery or a no-name replacement charger as a reason to walk away.

What to inspect on a used device

• The battery casing. Look for cracks, dents, swelling, scorching or a case that no longer sits flush. A swollen pack is a failed pack — do not charge it, do not ride it.
• The charging port and cable. Corrosion, melted plastic or a loose port are all signs of heat or water damage.
• The charger itself. It should be the one made for that device, with matching voltage and connector, and carry its own approval marking. Mismatched chargers are a leading cause of fires.
• Repair history. Ask whether the pack has ever been opened, rebuilt or had cells replaced. Home-rebuilt packs are common in the second-hand market and are a genuine risk.
• Water exposure. Ask directly whether it has been ridden in heavy rain or submerged. Water damage to a pack can show up months later.

Check the recalls register

Before you buy or list a used e-ride, search the national recalls register at productsafety.gov.au/recalls. Recalled models circulate on the second-hand market long after the recall, often with sellers who genuinely do not know. Selling a recalled product is a serious problem, and buying one is worse.

Charging habits that keep a pack healthy

• Charge on a hard, non-flammable surface, never on carpet or a bed.
• Do not charge overnight or while you are out. Most fires begin during or shortly after charging.
• Charge away from doorways and exit paths, so a fire never sits between you and the way out.
• Unplug when full — leaving a pack on the charger for days ages it.
• Store at partial charge, around 40–60%, if the device is going to sit unused for months.
• Let a hot battery cool before charging it.

Disposal

Never put a lithium-ion battery in a household or recycling bin. They start fires in trucks and at sorting facilities regularly. Use a battery recycling drop-off point — many retailers and council waste facilities take them — and tape the terminals before transporting a loose pack. If a battery is swollen or damaged, tell the drop-off point so they can handle it appropriately.

None of this is exotic. Buy certified, charge sensibly, and treat a damaged pack as done.