Using and charging electric scooters

There have been several fires involving electric scooters in Queensland. Follow these safety tips to ensure you and your family stay safe:

  • Check your scooter and charger have the regulatory compliance mark (RCM). This means it meets Australian safety standards. 
    Regulatory compliance mark
  • Ensure your charger is certified and registered on the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) database.
  • Before you buy, check the scooter has a battery management system. If not, don’t buy it.
  • Always purchase replacement chargers/batteries from a trusted manufacturer and check the scooter manufacturer’s information for the specifications required.
  • Don’t modify or repair batteries.
  • Never use a charger that has a different output charging voltage from the input charging voltage of the scooter – this could cause a fire.
  • If you use a charger of the wrong voltage output, or have the wrong batteries in the scooter, you could cause a fire.
  • Before charging, check both the scooter and charging device for any signs of damage including:
    • cracked or broken parts of the case of the charger, or scooter battery enclosure
    • discolouration of the charger case or battery enclosure that may show overheating has occurred
    • water ingress
    • bulging of battery pack or enclosure
    • damaged charger cords (cuts, exposed internal wires, severe kinks, discolouration, melting and pulled out of plugs or connectors parts).
  • Charge during the day when you are home and alert to any signs of electrical failure.
  • Charge away from the effects of the weather, and where you can monitor the device to check if anything abnormal is occurring (e.g. smoke, popping noises, flames).
  • Switch off the charger when the batteries are fully charged.
  • Install and regularly test a working smoke alarm where charging occurs.
  • Keep the scooter and charger away from any flammable products like loose papers, clothes, bedding, couches or curtains.

Safety tips for retailers and importers of scooters

Retailer safety tips:

  • Purchase from a registered responsible supplier on the EESS.
  • Ensure the power supply/battery charger supplied with the scooter has the RCM and is certified and registered on the EESS.
  • Ensure the responsible supplier provided you with relevant safety information for you to supply to buyers (e.g. safe use instructions, details of the charger type and voltage, battery details and type and safety tips on charging)
  • Check the responsible supplier provided you with evidence of the scooter complying to IEC 60335.2.114:2022 ed 2.0 Particular requirements for self-balancing personal transport devices for use with batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes and AS/NZS 60335.1:2022 Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety, Part 1: General requirements.
  • Ensure the responsible supplier provided evidence the battery pack includes a battery management system tested to relevant safety standards such as IEC 62133 standards.

Importer safety tips:

  • Register as a responsible supplier on the EESS.
  • Obtain a Certificate of Conformity for the battery charger supplied with the scooter, place the RCM on the battery charger and register the battery charger on the EESS.
  • Supply relevant safety information for your buyer (e.g. safe use instructions, details of the charger type and voltage, battery details and type and safety tips on charging).
  • Obtain evidence the scooter complies to IEC 60335.2.114:2022 ed 2.0 Particular requirements for self-balancing personal transport devices for use with batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes and AS/NZS 60335.1:2022 Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety, Part 1: General requirements and confirm the battery pack includes a battery management system (BMS).
  • Confirm there is a BMS integral to the batteries (and BMS and batteries are tested to relevant safety standards such as IEC 62133).
  • Have a quality management system to check each shipment of scooters and chargers comply to Australian safety standards, haven’t been modified or have parts substituted, and haven’t been damaged in transit.

Apply these safety tips to other transport type electrical equipment that contain lithium-based batteries including hoverboards, electric scooters, electric mono-wheel devices and electric skateboards.