You can’t extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire easily, once the process is underway. Water can’t help. You need special equipment to stop the chemical reaction. Your best strategy is to avoid a lithium-ion battery fire developing in the first place. What follows could apply to you, if you have a smartphone, an electric scooter, an electric car, or even an e-cigarette or vape, for example.
Tips to Avoid a Lithium Battery Fire
Of course, not all those devices contain a lithium-ion battery, or batteries. Although the chances are excellent they might have one or more inside powering them. The reason for this is simple. It’s because those batteries charge fast, and pack more power in smaller cases. However, there’s a risk attached to charging batteries faster that deliver more power.
Lithium-ion batteries are far more likely to violently explode if (a) they are not manufactured properly, (b) they are misused, or (c) they are over-charged for too long. It follows that users should obtain these batteries from reputable suppliers, and follow the operating instructions carefully to avoid the possibility of a lithium-ion battery fire.
However, and this is becoming an issue, lithium-ion batteries can also overheat, and even explode if something damages them. That something could be physical damage after an accident, or some other violent event. It could even be heat spreading from an unrelated fire. You see, battery management electronics are delicate and can fail.
Short Circuits Cause Most Lithium-Ion Fires
Lithium-ion batteries contain two active electrodes, with an insulator ensuring only ions pass between them. This divider should achieve this for the lifetime of the battery, provided none of the events we described above disturbs its routine.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case with improperly designed, and incorrectly manufactured lithium-ion batteries. Always purchase your batteries from a reputable supplier with a short-as-possible supply chain. Always use them carefully and correctly, and insist on a copy of the operating instructions.
More Information
Battery Electric Vehicle Fires – New Study
