New South Wales is on track to surpass more than 300 reported battery fires this year alone, with firefighters battling two blazes in Sydney just this week.

An e-bike with a battery made by a third-party manufacturer caught on fire while being charged inside a home in Northmead on Tuesday evening.

Emergency services arrived at the scene to find smoke and flames coming from the front door.

The blaze was quickly extinguished and one person was rushed to hospital with smoke inhalation.

The following morning another fire occurred when the battery inside a leaf blower caught on fire in the boot of a vehicle heading along a street in Willoughby East on Sydney's lower north shore.

The driver was able to pull over and remove the battery from his vehicle using a towel.

When firefighters found the battery, it was completely destroyed and smouldering.

There have been 185 fires attributed to lithium-ion batteries in the first seven months of the year, according to the latest Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) data.

This equates to more than six fires per week and an 13.5 per cent increase on 2023, when over the same period there were 163 fires.

It's a huge jump from the 109 from January to the end of July in 2022, the first year lithium-ion battery blazes were recorded.

'The fastest growing fire risk'

FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said battery fires were now a primary focus.

The department has referred to battery fires as "the fastest growing fire risk" in the state and people are four times more likely to be injured by a fire that originates from a lithium-ion battery than other sources.

Commissioner Fewtrell said FRNSW was working with other government agencies to determine the best way to address the rising number of fires in the state.

"First and foremost, we've got a big focus on getting as much community awareness and safety messaging out to make sure that people are aware of the potential dangers and know how to use their devices, then we're making sure our firefighters know how to deal with these incidents," he said.

CSIRO principal research scientist Adam Best said the increase in fires so far this year was in line with the huge number of battery devices currently in the market.

"I think most consumers would have multiple battery-operated devices in their house," Dr Best said.

"Depending on the type of product that they're purchasing, the quality of the product where they source that product from, maybe not all of those products might meet the appropriate standards for the level of safety that we would require from them.

"So, I see this increase as a number of things, just the sheer volume of batteries in the market, in different products, and the types of products that are available."

Biggest increases in small portable devices, e-bikes and e-scooters

Out of the 185 fires this year, the biggest increases came from small portable devices and micromobility devices, such as e-bikes and e-scooters.

Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean has advocated against poor-quality and "dangerous" e-bikes being imported into the country.

"These products are giving e-bikes a bad name," he said.

Mr McLean has called on the federal government to cease self-declared advisory notices on the importation of e-bikes.

"When it comes to items that pose some type of risk including lithium-ion batteries, we need to make sure there are the appropriate standards in place to ensure that people are protected," he said.

"So it's about closing down that loophole and ensuring someone with the appropriate skills and experience is checking these products."

Last week, the NSW government announced new safety standards for e-bikes, e-scooters and other battery-powered products.

Sellers of these products who don't meet these standards can face fines of up to $825,000.

Commissioner Fewtrell said FRNSW backed the measures.

"I'm really pleased that NSW is leading the way in the regulation in these types of items in Australia because, you know, we've identified the issues across the NSW government," he said.

"We've worked together to flag our concerns and then identify approaches that that we can take."

Dr Best said the regulations were vital to protect those using battery-powered products.

"These standards are very specific as to the types of tests that have to be undertaken on the device to ensure that they that they provide the highest levels of safety," he said.

While the changes would likely result in these products being more expensive, Dr Best said it would "help in maybe removing some of the cheaper products that are found in the market" and "help guarantee a level of safety".

Quality ebikes 'provide an incredibly good opportunity'

Mr McLean said the standards could not come soon enough.

"The horse has already bolted, there's thousands and thousands of these products out in the marketplace," he said.

"There needs to be consistent standards, and the government needs to enforce them."

Mr McLean said there were plenty of "reputable", "reliable" and "safe" e-bikes coming out of the US and Europe that are "extraordinarily positive for our end of the mile solutions for personal transport".

"We don't want to see these types of devices demonised and alienated, because they do provide an incredibly good opportunity," he said.

The regulations come into effect from February next year.