- Individuals & Families
- Businesses
- Brokers
From your home and valuables, to prized collections and jewellery, you have a lot to insure. When you insure your home and contents with Chubb, you will receive a high level of service from an insurer who is specialised in working with successful individuals with high value assets.
For professionals in their first luxury apartment, villa or townhouse through to retirees downsizing from a family house, Masterpiece is also ideal for owners and tenants living in luxury apartments, villas and townhouses.
From high-value homes and fine art collections to luxury vehicles and more, we are here to help ensure that what you treasure most is treated with expertise.
With more than 25 years of experience providing travel insurance to Australians, Chubb Leisure Travel Insurance can help protect you and your family while you travel overseas, knowing Chubb support is there if an incident occurs.
Chubb leverages superior underwriting expertise and world renowned claims, account services, and financial strength to offer insurance solutions for small and medium businesses.
Today's multinational organizations face complex and interconnected risks. We offer insurance solutions that are tailored to global needs as well as local requirements, helping them address their risk challenges.
Our broker resources centre provides you with the latest updates, insights, sales tools, training and much more.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are widely used in our daily lives, powering everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles. Recently, they've become the go-to power source for micro mobility devices, including walk-behind electric golf buggies. However, the rise in Li-ion battery use has also led to an increase in incidents involving fires and property damage due to improper use, charging, or disposal. Here’s how to safely charge your golf buggy to mitigate against such risks.
Common causes of li-ion battery failures
Li-ion batteries can overheat and burst into flames if they are used, charged or disposed of incorrectly. Fires involving Li-ion batteries can be difficult to extinguish and require large quantities of water. Li-ion battery incidents often result from:
- Poor component quality
- Flawed design
- Physical damage
- Improper charging or discharging
Recent incidents involving Li-ion powered micro mobility devices have been widely reported both locally and globally, often resulting in tragic consequences. EV FireSafe recorded more than 500 battery fire incidents involving micro mobility devices in the first half of 2023, resulting in at least 36 fatalities. Fire and Rescue NSW responded to 114 Li-ion battery fires in the first half of 2023, reflecting a nearly 20% increase when compared to the first half of 2022.
Mitigating the risks - Safety tips for charging golf buggies and other li-ion-powered devices
Regulations relating to the use of Li-ion-powered devices vary in each state, and many Fire and Rescue authorities offer safety tips to mitigate the risks. To reduce the fire risks associated with LI-ion battery use, follow these practical steps::
- Avoid battery charging or storage in clubhouses: Ensure member-owned buggies or batteries are not charged in high-value club buildings.
- Implement a cart safety inspection policy: Ensure golf carts pass a safety inspection by a qualified contractor, with regular safety inspections performed annually.
- Designate a safe charging area: Store and charge club-owned equipment in a low-value building at least 12 metres from non-combustible walls, and 24 metres from combustible walls or large openings in non-combustible walls. Charge batteries well clear of combustible storage on a concrete floor.
- Comply with standards: Ensure the charging facility and equipment meet Australian Standards.
- Use approved chargers: Only use chargers supplied with or approved by the device manufacturer. Spare or replacement batteries must be compatible and approved by the device manufacturer.
- Check battery and charger condition: Do not use damaged or discoloured charging cables or connectors, bulging or cracked batteries, or batteries with signs of impact damage.
- Monitor charging: Disconnect devices once fully charged and avoid charging batteries overnight or unattended for long periods. You can consider setting timers as a reminder to unplug products.
- Prepare for emergencies: Develop emergency response protocols, including isolating power supplies to the charger, notifying fire emergency services, and using fire hose reels to cool batteries if safe to do so. NOTE: Li-ion batteries are unsafe to handle during initial stage of thermal runaway (battery overheating). Only trained fire emergency service personnel with suitable protective equipment should handle batteries that are venting gases or have elevated temperatures. Damaged or faulty batteries should be temporarily stored at least 24 metres away from facilities and combustible materials/vegetation before being safely removed from the site.
Conclusion
Li-ion batteries offer significant advantages for powering golf buggies, but they come with inherent risks if not handled correctly. By adhering to these safety guidelines and being vigilant about charging practices, you can use Li-ion-powered golf buggies while minimising the risk of fire incidents.
Insights and Expertise
Effective life safety emergency procedures and features
The importance of air conditioner maintenance
Maintaining sprinkler and fire detection systems
How to enhance controls when hiring maintenance contractors
Common equipment and occupancy fire hazards
Importance of adequately maintaining your recreational facilities
This content is brought to you by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (“Chubb”) as a convenience to readers and is not intended to constitute advice (professional or otherwise) or recommendations upon which a reader may rely. Any references to insurance cover are general in nature only and may not suit your particular circumstances. Chubb does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and any insurance cover referred to is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions set out in the relevant policy wording. Please obtain and read carefully the relevant insurance policy before deciding to acquire any insurance product. A policy wording can be obtained at www.chubb.com/au, through your broker or by contacting any of the Chubb offices. Chubb makes no warranty or guarantee about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the content. Readers relying on any content do so at their own risk. It is the responsibility of the reader to evaluate the quality and accuracy of the content. Reference in this content (if any) to any specific commercial product, process, or service, and links from this content to other third party websites, do not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation by Chubb and shall not be used for advertising or service/product endorsement purposes. ©2026 Chubb Insurance Australia Limited ABN: 23 001 642 020 AFSL: 239687. Chubb®, its logos, and Chubb.Insured.SM are protected trademarks of Chubb.