Lithium-ion battery fires are occurring at an increasing rate, if we are to believe the media. Perhaps this is because battery sales are accelerating, while those products already in use are aging. The numbers the media report are worrying. Although when Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports more than 10,000 incidents a year in that country, we feel we have to take this even more seriously.
Fires Involving Lithium-Ion Batteries in Refuse
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation calls for more safe drop-off points for batteries, after it describes feedback from waste management services. The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association’s chief executive shares their concerns.
“If we don’t act on this,” we understand Gayle Sloan told Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “We’re going to continue to see facilities and trucks burn, we’re going to end up potentially with injuries on our workers, and, dare I say, a death, which is what we’re trying to avoid.”
We should avoid mixing our batteries with our regular trash, or placing them in regular garbage bins. That’s because they may break out into sudden fires. Or end up polluting our natural environment, including our water, with toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and other environmental pollutants.
Massive Lithium-ion Incident Near Seoul, South Korea
Meanwhile, China Daily reports a lithium-ion battery incident in far away South Korea.There, a fire at a lithium-ion battery factory killed 16 people, and left 21 more missing. The fire at the primary battery plant was in Hwaseong, 30 miles south of Seoul, and broke out at 10 a.m. in the morning.
China Daily confirms there were 35,000 battery cells in storage, on the second floor of the three-story reinforced concrete building. Some 159 firefighters with 63 pieces of equipment battled to extinguish the flames. They were finally able to enter the building, after five grueling hours.
More Information
Things To Remember About Lithium-Ion
Thermal Runaway in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Preview Image: Aricell Primary Lithium Batteries
