Did Chinese man die after electric bike battery exploded in elevator? We are investigating

A video with powerful imagery went viral on X this week. Man allegedly burned to death after electric bike battery exploded in elevatorThe post, made by a Brazilian account, has received nearly 40 thousand likes so far.

In addition to the old Twitter, content came to the fore on many sites. Some say the tragedy involving the lithium battery explosion occurred on Wednesday (24)It is possible to see the entirety of what happened in the images captured by the elevator’s security camera.

The record starts with: The man enters the elevator with the battery he allegedly has in his hand, and a few minutes later an explosion occurs and the fire quickly spreads throughout the entire area.Footage from the building’s hallway is also shown, with workers trying to contain the flames and remove the victim.

The content that shocked internet users became the target of various speculations on social media, while some people tried to understand This led to the explosion, while others questioned whether the video was new and whether the victim was dead.. HE TecMundo decided to investigate this story.

The case would appear in 2021

While searching the internet we discovered that Video of electric bike battery exploding in elevator has been floating around the internet since at least 2021There is not much information about the case from reliable sources, but a Chinese website reported the incident in November of that year.

According to the publication, The trial was scheduled for October 8, 2021other versions of the video appear to show “a middle-aged man entering an elevator with a small lithium battery.” The material emphasizes that the flames prevented the rest of the incident from being seen.

The broadcast does not mention the victim’s health condition, which raises doubts about the alleged death of the Chinese man..Website now The latestLY He said the person found with the battery “suffered serious burns and was taken to a nearby hospital” but did not say whether his injuries were healing.

Why did the battery explode?

We also came across posts about the lawsuit filed on the 9Gag platform and Reddit. First, posts are from 2021This implies that the explosion actually happened that year, or at least went viral at the time.

Discussions on Reddit are from this week and There are those who say the victim was alive after being pulled out of the elevatorUsers discussed possible causes of the explosion, citing issues such as poor quality materials in battery production and poor charging and maintenance practices.

The user identified as “johnruby” came up with the following theory:Probably a bad lithium-ion battery used for an e-bike. Lithium-ion battery cells contain a flammable electrolyte. If a lithium-ion battery cell generates more heat than it can effectively dissipate, this can lead to a rapid, uncontrolled release of thermal energy (also known as “thermal runaway”), which can result in a fire or explosion.

Expert warns about battery maintenance

Elevator explosion video emerges Battery safety concerns. In the face of doubts, TecMundo He consulted Danilo Fonseca, CEO of national electric bike brand Inow Brasil, for some clarification.

According to the manager, Lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used batteries in e-bikes Due to its high energy density, light weight, low self-discharge rate and long service life. There are also lead acid batteries that are cheaper but heavier and less efficient.

“Electric bike batteries can actually explode or catch fire in rare cases. This is the result of issues such as physical damage, overcharging, use of a poor quality charger, manufacturing defects, overheating, water ingress or leakage,” he explains.

Fonseca also noted that using an original charger, monitoring the battery for damage, swelling, leakage and overheating, and performing periodic maintenance all increase safety. Also, important Store the vehicle in a dry, ventilated place and away from flammable materials..

He stressed the importance of following the recommendations in the manual, avoiding exposing the battery to extreme temperatures and inspecting it regularly to detect potential damage.

“Of course, in no case should the batteries be modified; if there is any anomaly or low autonomy, it is essential to completely replace the module with the manufacturer,” he added.

Prejudice against Chinese technologies

One of the most common comments about the battery explosion claim was that “Chinese products are bad and useless”. Danilo Fonseca said that this is a stereotyped and unproven.

“Most of the high-quality electronic products and components are made in China.“China is the world’s largest electric bike manufacturing hub. Many well-known international companies have factories in China because of local expertise, manufacturing capacity and competitive costs,” he argues.

The Inow CEO argues that China, like other manufacturing locations, produces a variety of products that vary greatly in quality.

“The important thing is to make sure you buy from a reputable and serious company that meets all safety standards and has its own stores to prove its reliability,” he concludes.