Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Training & Consulting: stachedtraining.com
A fire broke out at an EV charging station in New Westminster, British Columbia — but this time, no vehicles were involved. The fire started inside the charger itself.
This wasn’t a typical DC fast charger. The unit involved was part of the On The Run charging network, and many of these systems actually contain built-in lithium-ion batteries — turning them into small-scale battery energy storage systems.
In this video, I break down how these battery-buffered chargers work, why they exist in areas with limited grid capacity, and the fire-safety challenges they introduce. These systems can store between 50 and 200 kilowatt-hours of energy, roughly one to two full EV packs’ worth, all inside the charger cabinet.
It’s a smart solution for expanding charging infrastructure — but it also creates new risks that firefighters and inspectors need to understand. Because when a charger doubles as a battery system, a small fire can become a much bigger problem.
Training & Consulting: stachedtraining.com
A fire broke out at an EV charging station in New Westminster, British Columbia — but this time, no vehicles were involved. The fire started inside the charger itself.
This wasn’t a typical DC fast charger. The unit involved was part of the On The Run charging network, and many of these systems actually contain built-in lithium-ion batteries — turning them into small-scale battery energy storage systems.
In this video, I break down how these battery-buffered chargers work, why they exist in areas with limited grid capacity, and the fire-safety challenges they introduce. These systems can store between 50 and 200 kilowatt-hours of energy, roughly one to two full EV packs’ worth, all inside the charger cabinet.
It’s a smart solution for expanding charging infrastructure — but it also creates new risks that firefighters and inspectors need to understand. Because when a charger doubles as a battery system, a small fire can become a much bigger problem.
