Electric bicycles must not be pushed into stairwells, elevators, or charged indoors

No direct cost. The tricky part is having to walk a few dozen meters each time to reach the designated charging stations downstairs.

The regulations of the China’s Ministry of Emergency Management explicitly prohibit: "It is forbidden to park electric bicycles or charge electric bicycles in the public lobbies, evacuation corridors, stairwells, and safety exits of high-rise civil buildings". In these locations—building lobbies, corridors, stairwells, and safety exits—neither parking nor charging is allowed. For those who refuse to rectify, non-business units and individuals will be fined 500 to 1000 yuan, and businesses will be fined 2000 to 10000 yuan. These regulations do not cover elevators or the interior of homes. When responding to deputies of the National People's Congress, the China’s Ministry of Emergency Management stated that the illegal parking and charging of electric vehicles and batteries indoors is a key focus of rectification for major fire safety risks. It warns society about the dangers of "vehicles entering buildings, wires extending from households, and unauthorized disassembly/modification". Elevators are governed by local regulations: from May 1, 2025, Beijing prohibits bringing electric bicycles and rechargeable batteries into elevator cars; individuals who refuse to rectify will be fined 500 to 1000 yuan

应急管理部 (2021). 高层民用建筑消防安全管理规定（应急管理部令第 5 号，第三十七条、第四十七条）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/01/content_5628815.htm；应急管理部 (2023). 关于政协第十三届全国委员会第五次会议第00969号提案答复的函：「2021年，全国共接报电动自行车火灾1.8万起，造成65人死亡、222人受伤，直接财产损失达2.21亿元，其中发生在建筑物内3782起，造成60人死亡、175人受伤」. https://www.mem.gov.cn/gk/jytabljggk/zxwytadfzy/2022zx/202301/t20230119_440918.shtml；应急管理部 (2025). 2025年1月15日新闻发布会：「每百万辆电动自行车火灾数量由2023年的5.6起下降至3起，火灾起数同比下降42.2%，伤亡人数下降超过90%」. https://www.mem.gov.cn/xw/xwfbh/2025n01y15xwfbh_6337/；应急管理部 (2024). 对十四届全国人大一次会议第7187号建议的答复：「将电动车（蓄电池）违规在室内停放或充电、未按要求设置防火分区等问题作为消防安全重大风险隐患专项排查整治2023行动整治重点」「向社会宣传提示"车入楼、线出户、自拆改"的火灾危险危害」. https://www.mem.gov.cn/gk/jytabljggk/rddbjydfzy/2023_5984/202401/t20240130_476731.shtml；北京市东城区人民政府转载北京消防 (2025). 北京消防条例：电动自行车、电池进电梯，个人最高可罚1000元：「禁止携带电动自行车、充电电池进入电梯轿厢。违规拒不改正的，可对单位处2000元以上1万元以下罚款，对个人处500元以上1000元以下罚款」. https://www.bjdch.gov.cn/ztzl/aqsczbgjsnxd/zdgz/202504/t20250410_4061604.html

Do not buy modified batteries, do not use off-brand chargers, and do not leave them charging all night unattended. Once a lithium battery catches fire, the entire area can burn out within dozens of seconds, simultaneously emitting highly toxic smoke. If a vehicle parked in a hallway catches fire, what burns is the route you need to go downstairs and escape. Figures released by the Ministry of Emergency Management show that in 2021, there were 18,000 electric bicycle fires nationwide in China, resulting in 65 deaths. Among these, 3,782 fires occurred within buildings, causing 60 deaths, with almost all victims being indoors. After the 2024 rectification, the number of fires decreased by 42.2% compared to the previous year, and casualties decreased by more than 90%. The number of fires per million vehicles dropped from 5.6 to 3. That press conference did not provide the absolute total for the full year.