The Queensland Government has released its Report following its Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland.

The Report contains some sobering facts for property owners.

- e-mobility devices are the leading cause of lithium-ion battery related fires in Queensland.

- the majority of these fires are caused by e-scooters.

- many thermal runaway incidents stem from unsafe charging practices, particularly the use of incorrect chargers.

- many users attempt to boost battery capacity or power by installing larger, non-standard batteries, often from unreliable sources.

- lower quality products present higher risks, particularly when charged in bedrooms or near soft furnishings.

- in a typical house fire in a modern home, a room will transition to 'flashover' – i.e. be fully involved in fire within 3 to 5 minutes. An e-scooter fire can reach flashover in under one minute.

- the rapid onset of fire reduces the warning period provided by smoke alarms before a potentially catastrophic explosion or spread of fire occurs.

- e-mobility devices and lithium-ion batteries are not currently regulated under Queensland’s electrical safety framework.

Among the Report’s recommendations, the Committee proposes that “the Queensland Government advocate to the Federal Government for the implementation of mandatory national safety standards for lithium-ion batteries in e-mobility devices and regulation, to enhance consumer safety and reduce the risk of fires.”

The Report notes that the NSW Government already requires all lithium-ion e-micromobility devices sold in the state to be tested, certified and marked before they can be sold. Rather than following the NSW Government’s lead, the Report recommends waiting for a national-led approach.

The Report does however recommend the Queensland Government “introduce anti-tampering laws that prohibit the sale and use of modification kits or assistance by retailers to increase the power and speed of e-mobility devices”.

The Committee also recommends the Queensland Government “continue to advocate with national counterparts for stronger mandatory import controls in order to prevent illegal and dangerous devices entering Queensland”.

The Report can be accessed here - Inquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland

March 2026

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The increased use of lithium-ion powered devices such as e-scooters presents a conundrum for landlords and strata committees.

A rise in the number of lithium-ion linked fires in homes is occurring amid a vacuum of government standards for dealing with these risks.

"Research by the organisation EV Fire Safe found that if a battery goes into thermal runaway inside a home, there is a 64% chance of being injured and requiring hospitalisation, and a 7.8% chance of death."

While there are some fire extinguishers available to suppress lithium-ion fires, in the absence of government standards, some fire safety consultants are currently reluctant to make specific recommendations in relation to lithium-ion fires.

In the linked article, Professor Christensen advises that lithium-ion devices should only be charged outside.

The Owners Corporation Network, an independent body representing apartment owners, has now made a similar recommendation.

But how practical is this suggestion in the context of apartment living? And are landlords and strata committees really aware of the number of devices currently used in their properties? (OCN has suggested that strata management maintain e-scooter and e-bike registers.)

Given the number of devices in properties across Australia, the risk seems relatively small at present but experts warn the risk increases where people use cheaper mismatched chargers or engage in unsafe charging practices.

Fire blankets commonly available are inadequate for dealing with lithium-ion related fires. Fire blankets capable of suppressing lithium-ion fires are coming to market but are generally not of an appropriate size or realistically priced for home use. Over time, this should change.

The insurance sector appears silent on the issue. But there is a risk of fires from lithium-ion batteries forming an exclusion from future policy coverage or at least a reluctance on the part of insurance companies to honour coverage if (as yet undefined) appropriate charging practices are not followed.

In the meantime, landlords and strata committees await the development of appropriate government standards for charging lithium-ion devices and dealing with related fires.

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