Lithium-ion batteries revolutionized electronics and the way we get around. Without them, we wouldn’t have cell phones, laptops, or e-bikes. But these game-changing batteries also present growing risks, including fire and explosion.
Lithium-ion batteries enter the danger zone when overused, overcharged, put in excessively hot environments, crushed, or physically damaged. By understanding how these batteries work and the dangers they pose, you can protect your home, your possessions, your loved ones, and yourself.
What are the two primary types of lithium batteries?
Rechargeable Lithium-ion Batteries
These are rechargeable and non-water-reactive. Found in a wide variety of items, including cell phones, laptops, cars, power tools, toys, e-bikes, e-scooters, and much more. Some of these batteries are easy to remove from their products, others cannot be removed. If it’s rechargeable and electronic, odds are it has a lithium-ion battery.
Single-Use, Non-Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
Made with lithium metal, these come in a variety of sizes including AAA, AA, C, D, Coin, Button Cell, and 9V. These batteries are often found in pacemakers, remote controls, games, watches, and other small items.
What makes lithium-ion batteries so popular?
Since its introduction into the commercial market in the early 1990s, the lithium-ion battery has skyrocketed in popularity. In the eyes of device makers, lithium-ion batteries have it all. The batteries have a high energy density, meaning they can pack a lot of power into a small package. They have a long-life cycle and require little maintenance aside from recharging. Plus, lithium is a lightweight metal, making it very portable.
Perhaps most importantly for manufacturers, lithium-ion batteries have many applications, making them cost-effective to produce. Uses for lithium-ion batteries will only continue to grow. By 2025, the global lithium-ion battery market is expected to reach $100.4B.
Knowing this, it’s crucial for everyone using devices, riding toys, and vehicles with lithium-ion batteries to understand the risks and take appropriate measures to protect themselves during usage, storage, disposal, and recycling.
Fire and explosion risks of lithium-ion batteries
Every lithium-ion battery contains a liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte is highly volatile and flammable, which creates a fire and explosion risk, especially in high temperatures.
In addition, the way a lithium-ion battery produces power generates heat as a by-product. Usually, this heat safely dissipates. But sometimes, the heat can’t be cooled normally, which creates what’s called “thermal runaway” — a dangerous battery failure.
When thermal runaway occurs, it can result in fire, explosion, smoke, and the release of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and more.
What makes this situation even more catastrophic is that lithium-ion batteries are extremely hard to put out. Water can help cool the battery down but can’t extinguish the fire until its energy is dissipated. Standard fire extinguishers often won’t help either. Firefighters need specialized fire suppression and containment equipment to put out lithium-ion battery fires. This can sometimes take hours, leaving time for the fire to spread and cause costly damage to homes, buildings, property, and valuables.
In the early days of lithium-ion batteries, it was common for laptops, cell phones, and other small devices to cause fires. Those devices are now far safer thanks to advancing technology, but a new major risk has taken their place.
E-bike and e-scooter fires on the rise — posing risk to homes
In recent years, small recreation vehicles, such as hoverboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes have become common causes of fires. Since 2019, in New York City and San Francisco alone, lithium-ion battery fires from these vehicles have caused at least 20 deaths and more than 300 injuries. The cities’ fire departments responded to nearly 700 lithium-ion battery-related fire incidents in 2022.
E-bikes and e-scooters are significantly dangerous to homeowners. The batteries are much larger than those found in personal devices, and they are often charged indoors or in garages. Because of the volatile nature of the battery’s energy, it can fuel a self-sustaining fire that spreads quickly and is difficult to put out. In extreme cases of lithium-ion battery failure, the cells can shoot as far as 60 feet, meaning multiple fires can be sparked from a single battery.
For high-net-worth homeowners with high-value homes and possessions, losses related to a lithium-ion battery fire could be millions of dollars.
Luckily, this is avoidable.
What can be done to protect against lithium-ion battery hazards?
With care and awareness — and by following the recommendations below — you can enjoy your e-bike and stay safe.
Look for damage
Always inspect batteries for damage and properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries if damaged. Use of a damaged battery can lead to thermal runaway. The effects of damage may not always be visible, but can be caused by:
- A fall from one foot or higher
- An automobile crash or vehicle collision at a speed of 20mph or more
- Puncture by a sharp object
- Expansion from overheating
Follow safe changing practices
- Though many batteries come with automatic shut off mechanisms to prevent overcharging, always unplug batteries when fully charged.
- Charge batteries one at a time and keep them three feet or more from combustibles while charging.
- Unplug battery chargers overnight.
- Do not use a battery or charger for a device it wasn’t intended for by the manufacturer. If possible, do not charge e-bikes or e-scooters inside and do not leave unattended.
Store batteries properly
- Remove lithium-ion batteries from devices when storing.
- Do not leave batteries in direct sunlight or on hot surfaces.
- Keep batteries away from combustible materials, including other batteries.
- Keep batteries in a metal storage cabinet if possible.
- Keep stored batteries between 41 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Charge batteries in storage to approximately 50% of capacity at least once every 6 months.
- If you have hobbies that involve owning and charging many batteries, use a professional battery storage cabinet.
Trust the experts
- Only purchase and use batteries and equipment from companies that are listed in a nationally recognized testing lab (E.g. UL).
- Always follow instructions and have repairs done only by qualified professionals.
Act quickly if a battery overheats
- Use a fire extinguisher or cool it with water. Sand or sodium bicarbonate may also be effective. Air out the room if it is indoors.
- Do not pick the battery up or attempt to move it.
- Call the fire department if needed.
Follow safety guidelines when disposing of lithium-ion batteries
When mishandled during the disposal process, lithium-ion batteries (and the devices with these batteries), can be crushed or damaged and become a fire hazard. To help prevent this from happening:
- Do not dispose of lithium-ion batteries (or devices with these batteries) in household trash or recycling bins.
- Take lithium-ion batteries to designated recycling centers or hazardous waste collection locations.
- Tape battery terminals with electrical tape and/or place lithium-ion batteries in separate plastic bags.
Regulations and standards promise safer lithium-ion batteries
Despite the risks, there are still very few national regulations in place to address the hazards these batteries pose. In some states, officials are taking action to set standards for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and lock in nationwide consumer guidelines to protect people and responders from fires caused by the batteries.
Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a letter to over 2,000 manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of e-bikes and scooters to sell products that use batteries built with standards set by Underwriters Laboratory, an industry safety organization, to reduce the fire risk. States such as New York are also introducing legislation around battery standard requirements. Hopefully, as more people become aware of the fire risks and the industry adopts the standards, we'll see far fewer fires related to lithium-ion batteries.
Keeping your family and your home safe
Mitigating fire hazards and using lithium-ion batteries safely are key to keeping you and your property safe. But having the right coverage is also an essential part of the equation. To ensure that you’re covered against fire risks and other hazards, get in touch with a qualified private client insurance broker.
