More than 300 electric motorcycle fires were registered in Cuba so far this year, according to official information.
At a rate of 1.67 fires per day, accidents in electric mopeds or lithium batteries have posed considerable risks to people’s lives, reported a report by the official media Cubadebate.
Jelsy González Longo, a specialist from the National Fire Directorate, explained that since 2019 there have been more than 3,000 fires of this type fought by firefighters.
The managers, who point to the overexploitation of these vehicles as the main cause of fires, do not refer to the transportation deficit, which has led Cubans to resort to electric cycles to provide themselves with a means to travel.
González Longo explained that, although lithium is not a combustible material, when it decomposes inside the cells, a phenomenon called “thermal runaway” occurs.
For this reason, they insist, the battery can explode even if it is not being charged because there is damage to the lithium cells. “
“When these lithium cells break and when these gases interact with oxygen, these vapors can reach up to 700 degrees Celsius. Mopeds are mostly made of plastic and rubber, and these are combustible materials and absorb heat, causing them to ignite and emit a large amount of toxic smoke,” he added.
This toxic smoke, inhaled by people near the fires, has caused a large number of victims in the country, according to what they said.
likewise recalled a series of measures to take into account to avoid the explosion of these means, mainly, to avoid the modification of the safety devices of the batteries.
To avoid overheating, they also recommended letting the motorcycle battery cool down to room temperature, before starting to charge it or starting a tour after charging it, as well as avoiding the use of homemade or artisanal lithium batteries, which are usually a frequent cause. of raging fires.
With some frequency in Cuba news of houses devoured by flames and people killed by the explosion of electric motorcycles.
One of the most tragic events occurred at the end of June, when a Cuban family made up of seven peoplefive adults and two minors, died in a house in the Centro Habana municipality as a result of a fire originated, presumably, by the explosion of electric mopeds.
