E-bike explodes while charging, nearly burns down Chonburi house
Photo courtesy of Khaosod English
An electric bicycle battery exploded while charging and nearly burned down a house in Chonburi province on Sunday morning.
Pol. Lt. Col. Chanda Dethphan, a deputy investigator at Bang Lamung police station, got the call at 10:30 AM about a house fire at 75/8 Moo 11 in Nong Prue subdistrict.
The e-bike was plugged in and charging when it suddenly exploded, sending flames through the house. Fire crews managed to control the blaze before it completely destroyed the structure, but the damage was significant.
This isn't an isolated incident. E-bike battery fires have been popping up across Thailand as more people switch to electric transportation — both locals and tourists who rent them for getting around islands and cities.
What this means for travelers
If you're renting an e-bike in Thailand (super common in places like Koh Samui, Phuket, or Bangkok), here's what to know:
Never charge overnight or leave the bike plugged in when you're not around. Most guesthouses and hotels will let you charge in common areas where staff can keep an eye on things.
Check the battery condition before renting. If it looks swollen, cracked, or has weird burn marks around the charging port, pick a different bike.
Stick to the charger that comes with the bike. Don't use random chargers even if they fit — different voltage can cause problems.
Most e-bike rentals in tourist areas run about ฿300-500 per day ($8-14), and they're honestly one of the better ways to get around without dealing with taxi negotiations or trying to flag down songthaews.
The thing is, a lot of rental shops — especially the cheaper ones — don't maintain their batteries properly. They'll run them until they're completely dead instead of replacing them when they start showing wear.
For what it's worth, I've rented dozens of e-bikes across Thailand and never had issues, but I always do a quick visual check of the battery and charging setup before taking one.
The Bang Lamung incident is a good reminder that these things can go wrong fast. Just be smart about where and when you charge.
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