e-ridable battery fires
ARISO has taken proactive steps to assess safety risks of lithium-ion battery fires on passenger trains
The increased magnitude and complexity of e-ridable battery fires and the consequent change in risk profile are not addressed by existing arrangements for fires from conventional sources on passenger trains. Existing standards for public transport did not anticipate these hazards, leaving a gap for safety of passengers, crew and assets that needs be addressed.
With the growing number and severity of e-bike and e-scooter fire incidents in Australia, ARISO has moved to proactively assist the rail industry manage this evolving hazard – setting up an expert group to analyse and understand the nature of lithium-ion battery fires and to assess new challenges they’re likely to pose.
eRidables Technical Paper
| Lithium-ion batteries are now part of everyday passenger travel, powering phones, laptops, power banks, e-scooters and e-bikes. When larger batteries fail, particularly those used in e-ridables, they can behave very differently from conventional ignition sources or traditional passenger belongings.
They can ignite suddenly, release intense heat within seconds, emit toxic flammable gases, and resist extinguishing – leaving emergency services a reduced window of opportunity to react and respond to such fires. The eRidables Technical Paper is written by the Fire Life Safety working group, a subgroup of the ARISO Safety and Operations Standing Committee. The paper examines the fire and life safety implications of lithium-ion battery fires on passenger trains, and why these fires challenge the current arrangements and hazard controls for passenger trains. Drawing on international research, recent transport incidents, and the emerging Australian context, the paper explores why e-ridable fires represent a step change in risk for rail operators, regulators, rolling stock designers, safety professionals, and emergency responders. |
|
Key hazards examined in paper
Rapid fire growth rate: Internal faults can quickly escalate to thermal runaway. Even without an explosion, vented battery gases are highly flammable and ignite easily.
Much larger fires: e-rideables can produce far greater fire size and peak heat release rates than current Fire & Life Safety provisions anticipate.
Toxic gas release: Lithium-ion fires emit hazardous gases, notably HF, which is far more toxic per dose than CO, CO₂, or HCN from conventional fires.
Deflagration and Projectiles: Thermal runaway can cause cell rupture with jet flames and hot components becoming dangerous projectiles.
Suppression difficulty: Early fire growth leaves little response time, and standard firefighting equipment is often ineffective. Cascading between cells can be delayed, meaning fires may appear extinguished but ignite hours later.
Next steps – working with Sydney Trains on test burn?
[… copy here ….]
Webinar – Safety risks of lithium-ion battery powered ridables on passenger trains
ARISO held a MasterClass webinar in June 2026, presented by Fire Life Safety working group’s Klaus Clemens and Associate Professor David Lange to introduce the findings of the technical paper, discuss the emerging fire safety risks posed by eRidables and whether current fire safety processes are adequate to manage lithium-ion battery fires on board passenger trains.
| Klaus Clemens, Chair, ARISO Battery Safety Operations Group – Klaus has 35 years’ experience as a consultant and executive manager. He has been actively involved at the program level of risk management as well as tender, design, construction and operations of transport infrastructure. |  |
| Associate Professor David Lange, School of Civil Engineering, University of Queensland (UQ) – Prior to joining UQ, Dr Lange worked in the UK and Sweden. He has developed fire safety strategies for laboratory and commercial facilities, and residential buildings; as well as conducted fire risk assessments and risk engineering projects in a range of industrial areas. |  |
This webinar recording is a must watch for transport operators, safety and risk managers, fire engineers, emergency services, rolling stock manufacturers, and regulatory bodies – learn more about this emerging hazard before it becomes a more frequent operational reality.