E-bike fires called ‘Wild West’ as Toronto students design safer storage

A cross-disciplinary group of first-year U of T Engineering and Architecture students are placing safety and practicality at the forefront with a newly proposed storage facility on St. George campus. (image courtesy of Victor Todorov)

University of Toronto students design e-bike storage to improve lithium-ion battery safety

A student project at the University of Toronto has produced a design for an e-bike storage pavilion intended to reduce the risks of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries.

According to the University of Toronto, engineering and architecture students developed the project through the Engineering Strategies and Practice (ESP) course, which connects students with real-world clients to design solutions.

Toronto Fire Services has worked with ESP on a series of projects focused on the hazards of lithium-ion batteries, which power devices from mobile phones to electric cars but are not comprehensively regulated in Canada.

Jim Chisholm, a fire protection engineer with Toronto Fire Services, said: “Lithium-ion batteries are a relatively new technology, and it’s growing exponentially.

“But for things like e-bikes and scooters, there’s nothing saying batteries made without any certification in another country can’t come into Canada.

“And within the country, there’s nothing saying that somebody can’t produce a battery that has no certification either.

“It’s a bit like the Wild West.”

Designing safer storage facilities

The University of Toronto reported that student teams have been working on battery-related safety concepts through ESP for several years.

One recent project, led by architecture and engineering students, developed a secure pavilion for storing e-bikes and e-scooters on the St. George campus.

Victor Todorov, a student in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, explained: “Working with lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles, safety was a key consideration; maintaining proper storage, temperatures, docking and charging were all central to the design.

“We also had to consider what preventive measures to take in the instance of a fire or explosion.

“For example, constructing the pavilion’s main walls — which face the nearby Robarts Library — out of reinforced concrete was a choice made to protect the building, as well as contain the fire in the event of a battery flare up.”

Past student projects on fire safety

The University of Toronto noted that ESP students have also examined other lithium-ion battery fire scenarios in past projects.

In one case, students proposed a layout for an e-bike retail store after a deadly fire occurred in a New York City shop.

The design separated core functions such as retail, storage, repairs and disposal into distinct areas to help contain potential fires and reduce risks.

Chisholm said: “Safety is the fundamental underpinning of any engineering project. As engineers, this should be our first consideration.

“One of the things I see working with students in ESP is that they come to a real understanding that these are issues that affect real people.

“They came up with a really thoughtful layout. It wasn’t just about fire suppression — it was about prevention, containment and practical usability.

“They were really thinking holistically.”

Fire risks from faulty batteries

The University of Toronto explained that faulty or damaged lithium-ion batteries can cause fires that are difficult to control and highly destructive in residential and commercial environments.

Toronto Fire Services has identified this as a growing safety concern as use of e-bikes and e-scooters continues to expand.

Student projects in the ESP programme are intended to help identify practical design measures that can reduce risks and inform industry and regulatory approaches.

The role of engineering education

According to the University of Toronto, the ESP course gives first-year engineering students practical experience of solving real-world problems.

Chisholm said: “ESP exposes students to the reality that engineering is about people right at the outset of their degree.

“They’re applying their knowledge and getting valuable experience solving real problems.

“Their reports go into our knowledge bank.

“They help us ask better questions, propose smarter strategies and sometimes even influence future regulations.

“The work that the ESP teams are doing is pathfinding.

“A lot of the issues they’re dealing with have shown possible gaps in regulations that may need to be addressed.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The University of Toronto’s work highlights the role of design in reducing the risks of lithium-ion battery fires in e-bikes and e-scooters.

These student-led projects provide examples of how built environments can be structured to protect buildings, separate hazardous functions, and support fire prevention.

They also demonstrate how collaborations between fire services and universities can help shape future regulatory considerations in Canada, where battery safety rules are currently limited.

For professionals, the projects may offer insights into practical measures for managing battery storage and fire risk in both public and commercial facilities.

University of Toronto students design e-bike storage to improve lithium-ion battery safety: Summary

A University of Toronto project has focused on lithium-ion battery safety.

Engineering and architecture students designed an e-bike storage pavilion on the St. George campus.

Toronto Fire Services partnered with the project through the Engineering Strategies and Practice course.

The design includes reinforced concrete walls and storage and charging controls.

Past student projects included layouts for e-bike retail stores to limit fire spread.

Lithium-ion batteries remain largely unregulated in Canada.

Toronto Fire Services said imported and domestic batteries can lack certification.

Jim Chisholm of Toronto Fire Services called the market “a bit like the Wild West”.

Fires caused by faulty batteries are difficult to extinguish.

The student reports are used by Toronto Fire Services to improve questions, strategies and regulatory considerations.