Don't push an e-bike into a stairwell or elevator, and don't charge it at home

Cost

Free. The hard part is parking at the shared charging point downstairs every time, a few dozen meters farther.

What you get

The Ministry of Emergency Management's rule states: “It is forbidden to park electric bicycles, or to charge them, in the public lobbies, evacuation corridors, stairwells and safety exits of high-rise civil buildings.” In building lobbies, corridors, stairwells and safety exits, you can neither park nor charge. Those who refuse to correct it are fined 500 to 1000 CNY if they are individuals or organizations not doing business, and 2000 to 10000 CNY if they are doing business. The regulation does not cover elevators or the inside of your home. Replying to National People's Congress deputies, the Ministry said that keeping e-bikes and batteries indoors in violation of the rules, parked or charging, is a key target of its cleanup of major fire hazards. What it has put to the public is the danger of “bikes into the building, wires out the window, and self-modification” (“车入楼、线出户、自拆改”). Elevators are governed by local regulations: from May 1, 2025, Beijing bans bringing e-bikes and charging batteries into elevator cars, and individuals who refuse to correct it are fined 500 to 1000 CNY

Notes

Don't buy modified batteries, don't use no-name chargers, and don't leave a bike charging unattended overnight. Once a lithium battery catches fire, within a few dozen seconds the whole area is burning, and it gives off highly toxic smoke at the same time. A bike parked in a stairwell that catches fire burns your only escape route. The Ministry of Emergency Management reported that in 2021 there were 18,000 (1.8万) e-bike fires nationwide with 65 deaths. Of these, 3782 burned inside buildings and killed 60 people, almost all of them indoors. After the 2024 crackdown, the number of fires fell 42.2% from the year before and casualties fell by more than 90%. Fires per million vehicles fell from 5.6 to 3. That press conference did not give the absolute numbers for the whole year.

Evidence grade

A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.

Sources

1. Ministry of Emergency Management (2021). Provisions on the Administration of Fire Safety in High-Rise Civil Buildings [in Chinese] (Ministry of Emergency Management Order No. 5, Articles 37 and 47). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/01/content_5628815.htm
2. Ministry of Emergency Management (2023). Letter Replying to Proposal No. 00969 of the Fifth Session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [in Chinese]: "In 2021, a total of 18,000 electric bicycle fires were reported nationwide, causing 65 deaths and 222 injuries and direct property losses of 221 million yuan, of which 3782 occurred inside buildings, causing 60 deaths and 175 injuries". https://www.mem.gov.cn/gk/jytabljggk/zxwytadfzy/2022zx/202301/t20230119_440918.shtml
3. Ministry of Emergency Management (2025). Press conference of January 15, 2025 [in Chinese]: "The number of electric bicycle fires per million vehicles fell from 5.6 in 2023 to 3, the number of fires fell 42.2% year on year, and casualties fell by more than 90%". https://www.mem.gov.cn/xw/xwfbh/2025n01y15xwfbh_6337/
4. Ministry of Emergency Management (2024). Reply to Recommendation No. 7187 of the First Session of the 14th National People's Congress [in Chinese]: "Parking or charging electric vehicles (batteries) indoors in violation of rules, and failing to set up fire compartments as required, are made the focus of the 2023 special campaign to inspect and fix major fire safety risks" and "publicize and warn society of the fire dangers of 'vehicles entering buildings, wires running out of homes, and self-dismantling and modification'". https://www.mem.gov.cn/gk/jytabljggk/rddbjydfzy/2023_5984/202401/t20240130_476731.shtml
5. Beijing Dongcheng District People's Government, republishing Beijing Fire Rescue (2025). Beijing Fire Regulations: Electric Bicycles and Batteries in Elevators, Individuals Can Be Fined Up to 1000 Yuan [in Chinese]: "It is prohibited to bring electric bicycles or charging batteries into an elevator car. For those who violate this and refuse to correct it, an organization may be fined more than 2000 yuan and less than 10,000 yuan, and an individual may be fined more than 500 yuan and less than 1000 yuan". https://www.bjdch.gov.cn/ztzl/aqsczbgjsnxd/zdgz/202504/t20250410_4061604.html

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 1, tip 6. This section is about health and medicines. It is general information, not a substitute for a doctor’s diagnosis or prescription. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer