Charging your electric scooter in a condominium or at work: rules and precautions
There is no law prohibiting you from charging your electric scooter in your apartment. However, once you leave your home, different rules apply: the condominium regulations for the lobby, hallway, or bicycle storage room, and the internal regulations of the company at the office. And everywhere, lithium batteries require certain precautions. This guide summarizes the framework and the recommended practices established by the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention) for safe charging.
The essentials
- At your home, charging is your responsibility. The French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) recommends using the original charger and charging the device away from flammable materials.
- In common areas, the condominium regulations determine the rules: storage on landings, access to the bicycle storage room, and hallways.
- Using standard household electricity to charge your electric scooter requires the approval of the building's management or homeowners' association.
- In the workplace, the employer sets the rules, which are outlined in the company's internal regulations or safety guidelines.
- Never charge in a location that blocks an emergency exit.
Why charging is a critical time to monitor
A lithium battery in good condition, charged with the correct charger, poses a relatively low risk. However, the DGCCRF (French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) has recorded more than fifty accidents or fires related to batteries in scooters and bicycles. The causes of thermal runaway include excessive voltage, overcharging with an unsuitable charger, a short circuit, excessively high temperature, charging after a deep discharge, or impact on the battery. Several of these causes manifest themselves during the charging process. Our guide on preventing lithium battery fires details this phenomenon.
Chez soi : les règles d'or de la DGCCRF
In its information sheet on lithium batteries, the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) provides the following simple guidelines:
- Please adhere to the battery's usage conditions and use a suitable charger, preferably the original one
- Do not charge on a flammable surface, and instead, opt for a concrete or tiled floor, away from combustible materials
- Do not charge the battery of an electric bicycle or scooter in a location that blocks an emergency exit
- Disconnect the battery once the charging process is complete
- Be vigilant if the device overheats during charging, if the battery leaks or is damaged, and consult product recall notices on rappel.conso.gouv.fr.
We're adding two workshop tips: charge your battery when you are present and alert, and allow the battery to cool down after a ride before plugging it in. Our guide on best charging practices goes into more detail.
In a condominium
The condominium regulations stipulate..
Common areas belong to all co-owners, and their use should not infringe upon the rights of others. The condominium regulations specify what is permitted in the lobby, on the landings, in the hallways, and in the bicycle storage room. A tenant must also abide by these regulations, and the landlord is obligated to provide them with the relevant excerpts. Before leaving a scooter on a landing or plugging it into a common area, please read these regulations or consult with the building management.
Electricity for common areas
A power outlet in the bike storage area or parking lot is powered by the building's common area meter, and therefore paid for by all residents. Plugging in without authorization means making other residents pay for your charging. The correct procedure is to request a decision from the general assembly, or to install a dedicated outlet with its own meter.
Here's what the law stipulates regarding bicycles and electric vehicles:
According to the French National Agency for Housing Information (ANIL), Article 24 of the law of July 10, 1965, allows the general assembly to authorize, by a simple majority, one or more co-owners to create, at their own expense, a secure bicycle parking area in the common areas, without affecting the structure or safety of the building. The "right to install" provision, on the other hand, concerns electric and hybrid vehicles that can be recharged in a parking space. These regulations were not written with scooters in mind; their applicability to your specific situation should be discussed with the building manager (syndic).
The underground parking lot
A report from the General Inspectorate of Administration, published in 2022 regarding fire safety in covered parking areas, recommends exercising extreme caution when charging the batteries of light electric vehicles, both at home and in enclosed spaces, and suggests reserving parking spaces specifically for this purpose in areas with enhanced fire protection. While not a regulation, this is a clear warning: an underground parking garage is not the ideal location for unsupervised charging.
Let's get to work
Within company premises, the employer sets the rules, either in the internal regulations or the safety guidelines. Some companies provide a dedicated charging area; others prohibit the use of batteries from electric vehicles in the offices. Please ask before plugging your charger in under your desk. The minimum requirement is to charge your device on a clear surface, away from corridors and emergency exits.
The case of large batteries
A powerful electric scooter features a much larger battery than a typical urban model, and is sometimes charged with a fast charger. The greater the amount of energy stored, the more significant the consequences of an incident. The charger must always be compatible with the battery: our UltraCharge 4000W is designed for electric scooter batteries that support fast charging, and its BMS and connectors are designed for that purpose. We adjust its end-of-charge voltage and current before shipping. A fast charger must be connected to an electrical installation that is suitable for its power, and never to a makeshift extension cord. Our guide on fast chargers explains this.
Workshop tip
A battery that has been impacted, is swelling, smells burnt, or is overheating will no longer charge: isolate it outdoors, away from anything that could cause a fire, and have it inspected. Do not attempt to open it yourself. See our guide on swollen batteries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my homeowners' association prohibit me from charging my electric scooter at my home?
Your accommodation is a private space. The condominium regulations primarily govern the common areas; for any clause that might apply to private spaces, consult with an ADIL (housing agency) or the condominium management company.
Can I leave my scooter on the bearing?
It depends on the condominium regulations, which govern the use of common areas. Any vehicle that obstructs a passageway or an emergency exit has no place on a landing.
Can I charge the scooter using the outlet in the bike storage area?
Only if the homeowners' association permits it: the cost of this outlet is paid for by all the homeowners in the association.
Can it be charged overnight?
It's best to charge your device when you are present and attentive, so you can react quickly if the battery overheats, and to disconnect it once the charging is complete.