A widely circulated video on social media shows an EV battery catching fire inside an elevator, severely injuring the person holding it. The video is shared with claims that the battery turned the area into a magnetic field resulting in the explosion. Additionally, some posts allege the incident occurred in Singapore and that the explosion resulted from modifications and overcharging. This article aims to fact-check these claims.
Claim: Video showing an EV battery explosion in an elevator, allegedly caused by the battery turning the area into a magnetic field.
Fact: The viral video was originally reported in China in 2021. The explosion was not caused by magnetic fields, as the magnetic fields produced by the battery are too weak to trigger an explosion. Additionally, the battery is not connected to a power source, and under ideal conditions, batteries do not produce magnetic fields. Magnetic fields are generated only during charging or discharging. The explosion is more likely attributable to factors such as battery modification or overheating. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Incident reported in China:
The viral video depicts an incident originally reported in China in 2021. A Google search using relevant keywords revealed several Chinese news reports featuring the same footage from 2021. However, these reports did not specify the location or cause of the explosion (here, here & here).
Further research uncovered recent reports featuring the same footage. According to these reports, the incident in the viral video occurred in Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China, in 2021 (here, here, & here). None of these reports mentioned the battery’s magnetic field as the cause of the explosion.
Additionally, these reports highlighted that, following Shanghai authorities’ revision of rules banning electric bicycles or their batteries from being brought indoors or into elevators, the video of the old incident is being shared for reference and awareness purposes.
Previously, Shanghai authorities banned bringing e-bike batteries indoors and prohibited commercial activities related to the assembly, addition, or modification of e-bikes (here, here & here). This government action came after multiple incidents of battery explosions caused by modifications and overheating (here).
A similar incident was reported in Singapore:
A similar incident involving an EV battery explosion in an elevator was reported in Singapore in 2021. According to the investigation, authorities determined that battery modifications were one of the causes of the explosion.
Many other social media posts are sharing the same viral video, alleging it shows this incident that occurred in Singapore. However, the viral video is not related to the Singapore incident. Circumstantial evidence supports this, as the reports on the Singapore incident included visuals that differ from the viral video. Specifically, the paintings on the wall adjacent to the elevator in the Singapore incident are different from those in the viral video (here & here).
Additionally, regarding the Singapore incident, these reports highlighted that after hearing screams, people from other flats on the lower floor rushed to the scene and extinguished the lift fire with buckets of water. In contrast, the viral video shows a couple waiting for the lift, observing the fire, and attempting to put it out using extinguishers (here & here). These differences further support that the viral video is not related to the incident reported in Singapore.
Magnetic field did not cause the fire:
The electric field inside a conductor is zero when there is no net movement of charge across it. In an ideal state, batteries do not produce a magnetic field. Magnetic fields are only generated during the charging or discharging of a battery. However, these magnetic fields are weak and not strong enough to cause an explosion (here).
The viral video clearly shows that the battery is not connected to any power sources. While external magnetic fields can affect batteries, their impact is minimal (here, here & here). Furthermore, the metal surface of the elevator does not generate a significant magnetic field, as there is no net movement of charge across it. Therefore, the elevator surface cannot influence the battery through magnetic fields (here). As a result, the claim that magnetic fields caused the fire in the viral incident is not substantiated.
Li-ion Batteries Can Catch Fire:
Lithium-ion batteries used in Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) can catch fire due to thermal runaway. Essentially, this occurs when a fault within the battery—typically due to manufacturing defects, overheating, misuse, or external damage—creates a short circuit that generates excessive heat within a battery cell. This heat can trigger a chemical reaction that produces even more heat, leading to the collapse of the cell’s structure and further heat generation. This chain reaction can spread to other cells, releasing a significant amount of energy and toxic gases over a short period.
The explosion depicted in the viral video was likely due to a specific issue with the battery. This issue was probably related to the cells, resulting in thermal runaway from overheating or the use of incompatible charging devices, as mentioned earlier in the article. The reasons for the Chinese government’s ban on bringing e-bike batteries into indoor spaces, such as elevators, further suggest that the viral incident was caused by these factors rather than a magnetic field, as claimed. However, it is important to note that such incidents are sporadic and do not reflect the overall safety record of EV batteries.
To sum up, this incident involving an electric battery explosion in an elevator occurred in China, and the cause of the explosion is not related to a magnetic field.
