More information can be found at, Aviva is a Living Wage and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. The general consensus is that, as production volumes rise and the industry learns more about lithium-ion technology, problems like those involving the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona are being resolved. Cover the EV charging station outlet to stop water from entering. An electric bike can be a game-changer, taking the sweat out of cycling and reducing reliance on your car. Do they pose a danger to drivers and passengers? Buy a smart/safe charging socket to safeguard from . And of course they're then in the presence of other flammable material like plastic, paper and card and that can lead to quite big fires.". Tragically, these fires have also led to six fatalities. FORTUNE and FORTUNE Media IP Limited are not affiliated with and do not endorse products or services of, ERIE Insurance. Sign up to receive daily breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis, deals and more from the world of tech. E-bike battery fires this year have killed more in NYC than in 2022: FDNY While progress is still in development, Jeff still shared some insight into what it takes to fight these fires. What Role Does the NFSA Play in Controlling Lithium-Ion Battery Fires? What draws media attention, however, have been fires that appear to have occurred while vehicles were parkedin some cases while inside a garage. Do Russians really hate the West? Counterfeit chargers may not meet UK regulations and can cause batteries to overheat. However, because people dont tend to think of chargers as a fire hazard, they often leave them unattended, which means the damage can be worse and more disruptive for customers.. Dont be tempted by cheaper bargains. With sprinkler protection, the minimum space separation from any part of the ESS is 0.9m (3 ft) from non-combustible objects and 1.5 m (5 ft) from combustible objects. Recycle it responsibly, Always use the manufacturers cord and power adapter made specifically for the device, Do not leave e-bikes unattended while theyre charging, Store batteries and devices at room temperature. Fire authorities across the country have linked the increase in these incidents to the huge growth in small, battery powered vehicles like e-bikes and e-scooters. What's driving the battery fires with e-bikes and scooters? Are you scared of increasing lithium-ion battery fire and explosion incidents? Lithium-ion battery caused truck to explode in Maine, fire - KSNV Jeff Dunkel, PE explained that more and more companies are adopting lithium-ion batteries in their products. E-waste: Five billion phones to be dumped in 2022, Cause of recycling plant fire remains a mystery, Mine e-waste, not the Earth, say scientists, 'My mother was missing - then I got a picture of her body', Twenty injured after Russian strike on Dnipro, Beijing's comedy crackdown is hitting its music scene, 'My mother was missing, I got a picture of the body', Mystery of spy deaths in Italian boat accident. New research from Aviva shows that the hidden impact of inflation on savings, and therefore buying power, is not widely understood by more than half of Brits today. Aviva has revealed a glimpse into coronations past, demonstrating how the insurance world marked these historic occasions. Did an Electric Car Fire at a US Warehouse Destroy Dozens of Cars? According to a 2018 report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 25,000 overheating or fire incidents have been reported over a five-year period involving more than 400 types of lithium battery powered products. Well, you should be, as social media is flooded with the alarming news of battery explosions. Install a residual current device with the charging unit. Alternatively, home EV charging stations reduce the need for cable management with less cable to manage. Share this article. Home Data & Research How Many Electric Cars Catch Fire Every Year: Electric Car Fire Statistics (2022 Findings). Never use a multiplug adapter or extension cord. Remember the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or hoverboard fires? The battery was attached to a cordless drill. Erie Insurance Home, Above All in Service Since 1925. During 2018, vehicle fires caused $1.9 billion in direct property damage in the US. When fires occur, they also tend to burn very hot and . GMs expanded recall now covers all 142,000 of the two Bolt models sold since 2017including the 2022 models sitting on showroom lotsbecause the EVs could catch fire. Aviva issues warning as battery chargers lead to fires, Our memberships, awards and accreditations, Embedding sustainability throughout our business, Download our Modern Slavery Statement PDF, * Share price delayed by 15 mins. Look, I have lithium-ion devices in my own house, Jeff Dunkel explained, You just need to be smart about them.. E-bike fires: why they happen, and how you can prevent them Building upon the belief that a stronger industry leads to a safer world, the NFSAs team works at the highest levels of fire protection to grow the industry. Most e-bikes and e-scooters are powered by lithium-ion batteries. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission swiftly implemented a safety standard for hoverboards and although theyre still not permitted on planes, hoverboards soon returned to store shelves. Check the manufacturer's guidelines to make sure it is safe to charge your EV in wet conditions. All told there have been at least seven confirmed instances of battery fires involving the two Chevy Bolt lines, a tiny percentage of those sold to date, Abuelsamid told Forbes Wheels. Dont expose them to extreme cold or heat. Jeff and the NFSA Codes and Standards team are hard at work on several NFPA technical committees to make sure the standards have language in them that adequately protect against these fires. We are one of the UKs leading Insurance, Wealth & Retirement businesses and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. Battery manufacturersand the automakers they servecontend there have been significant improvements in the technology, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk repeatedly insisting that the risk of an EV battery pack catching fire has been way overblown. These cells can short circuit when damaged or defective, causing them to overheat and catch fire as a result of this short circuit condition. Hundreds of fires across Australia have been linked to lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power light electric vehicles like e-scooters and e-bikes. Causes of batteries catching fire include manufacturing defects, design flaws, abnormal use, charger issues, low-quality components, to mention but a few. Based on our study, estimated 3-5 electric cars catch fire while charging in the period 2019-2022. Is controlling their social media the answer? Hoverboards were particularly susceptible because they were so new, there were no design standards that stipulated the use of safety measures like holes to vent excess pressure, or separators that act as a fuse and shut down the cell above a certain temperature. A spokesperson for the FDNY told Motherboard that, as of July 7, the department has reached 104 lithium ion battery fires for the year so far tracked by the fire marshal, matching the number. BYD Co Ltd. Aug 23 (Reuters) - General Motors Co (GM.N) has expanded the recall of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles due to a risk of fire from the pouch-type lithium-ion battery cells made by . Electric car batteries are catching fire and that could be a big turnoff to buyers By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Business Updated 4:45 PM EST, Tue November 10, 2020 Link Copied! AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/e-scooter-lithium-battery-fire-risk-fears-/101863902, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, How spies used a shard of an exploded Nokia phone to expose the Bali bombers, 'A smorgasbord for the matron': Stolen Generations survivor reveals sexual abuse at Aboriginal girls home. Sam Abuelsamid, the principal auto analyst at Guidehouse Insight, agrees. ", "Because people dont tend to think of chargers as a fire hazard, they often leave them unattended, which means the damage can be worse and more disruptive for customers.". Instead, it showed a . Lithium-ion batteries were found to be the cause of the blaze. But what exactly is causing these fires, and how should companies and the public react? Electric Vehicle Fire Safety - U.S. Fire Administration Were the first major insurer worldwide to target Net Zero carbon by 2040. 4. It will turn off the power if a fault is detected and help prevent a fire. Finally, he warns against keeping old lithium-ion batteries in your house - whether theyre e-bike batteries or not. Contact your local recycling center to find a facility near you. If the battery reacts in an alarming way, and it is safe to do so, move . This government regulatory organization oversees product safety and lists active recalls on their website. Its now waiting for new battery packs that resolve a series of manufacturing defects. Albanese visits Hanoi to highlight Australia's growing economic ties to Vietnam, Officials announce end to rescue efforts at India's deadly rail accident, Record-breaking numbers are searching for flatmates with older generations increasing the most, A woman was found dead in Sydney after a delayed response to triple-0 call, but she's not the only one, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell says he 'feels for everyone' linked to racism saga, house fire caused by an e-scooter battery exploding on Tuesday, Four people in hospital after e-scooter fire guts Ipswich home, ACCC to investigate safety of 'extremely volatile' lithium-ion batteries, E-scooter sales boom but confusion over rules continues, Three Israeli soldiers, Egyptian officer killed in rare gun battle along Israel-Egypt border, Joe Biden signs bipartisan debt ceiling deal, ending month-long drama that unnerved finance markets. The list includes smartphones, laptops, tablets, eReaders, smart watches and Bluetooth headphones. What Does NFPA Say About Lithium-Ion Protection? Extinguishing Electric Vehicle Battery Fires - FirefighterNation: Fire Complete the form below to find a local ERIE agent and get started. Luckily, the company has taken proactive steps to mitigate the risk and their technology has come a long way, but the concern surrounding lithium-ion battery fires remains. "And when you put them in general rubbish or recycling, they're likely to be crushed, compacted, smashed or they might get wet. Or is it just a facade for tourists? Thermal runaway occurs when the battery is overcharged or overheated or suffers damage such as a puncture. Aman in his 40s was sent to hospital in a serious condition and a woman and two children were also hospitalised for smoke inhalation. Request a quote today. This happens because of the way in which the battery pack is designed and constructed. We tend to see more fire claims as a result of candles and garden fires, for example. Well spare you the rest of the science lesson. Similarly, dont leave items charging overnight. Chevy is the latest manufacturer to recall its battery-electric vehicles due to the risk of fire, but its not alone. January 12, 2023 Those in fire protection are well aware of the potential risks of lithium-ion batteries. As the battery is charged or drained, charged ions move from one electrode to the other. Heres what to look for: If your device is showing any of the above warning signs, take the following steps: According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are several precautions you can take to help prevent lithium battery fires. There have been several headlines and much discussion surrounding these batteries and the fire risk they pose, but the simple fact remains: lithium-ion batteries are here to stay. For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit. Find out more about our climate goals at, While we are working towards our sustainability ambitions, we acknowledge that we have relationships with businesses and existing assets that may be associated with significant emissions. Aviva is also announcing the new funds first investment, an investment in Scan.com, a business helping individuals and organisations book diagnostics scans such as MRI, ultrasounds and x-rays. Headlines abound surrounding the fire risk of lithium-ion batteries. As we see more cordless devices around the home and garden, its becoming even more important for householders to remain aware of fire safety when charging batteries.. "That can cause them to short-circuit. Aviva plc announces the results of its Annual General Meeting held today. This plan means Net Zero carbon emissions from our investments by 2040; setting out a clear pathway to get there with a cut of 25% in the carbon intensity of our investments by 2025 and of 60% by 2030; and Net Zero carbon emissions from our own operations and supply chain by 2030. company licensure and states of operation information. When the phone is unplugged, the process works in reverse. The key is that EVs are not necessarily more prone to fire, says Abuelsamid. Dominic Ellis, Deputy Commissioner for the London Fire Brigade, told Sky News that the flames were over 1000 degrees Celsius (1832 degrees Fahrenheit) and that the vapor was "highly toxic." They also can deliver a voltage up to three times higher than other battery types. Melbourne-based lithium-ion battery manufacturers like Zakk Goodsell, whose company makes batteries for drones, said it was important for consumers to understand the inherent risk in buying cheap and poorly made products. This data are based on sample. E-bikes have been around for much longer, and standards for them are more established, but the Fire Protection Research Foundation explains that bikes involved in fires are often poorly built: According to anecdotal reporting from some fire departments, such as FDNY, many e-bikes fires have resulted from those made with low quality components (eg batteries made with inadequate quality control or products that have not been certified by an independent testing laboratory)., In addition to buying an e-bike from a reputable manufacturer that complies with the appropriate safety standards, there are also measures you should take to take care of your e-bike and avoid fires. In 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation jointly banned the shipment of lithium-ion batteries as cargo on passenger airplanes, and limited how they can. Here's how to buy and use items with lithium batteries safely. Electrons will move through a circuit, powering the phone and then moving to the cathode. Recently, there have been several reports of electric cars catching on fire. In a separate incident just . According to the insurers latest How We Live report, of those who had purchased luxury items during the pandemic, 34% of UK adults had bought phones or tablets, while 18% had purchased consoles and gaming equipment. Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: Myth vs. Reality | TV SD The batteries stored in the facility reached thermal runaway temperatures and a clean-agent system had reacted. More On: fires. In the last 12 months alone, weve seen incidents relating to e-scooter and e-bike batteries, e-cigarettes and even an electric golf caddy, each causing six-figure sums of damage and considerable inconvenience and distress for the families involved. Firefighter Hell: When an Electric Car Bursts Into Flames According to the latest study from Aviva, 67% of Brits admit to having debt that's weighing them down. Its not just cell-phones, anymore, Jeff explained, were seeing lithium-ion batteries in power tools, hoverboards, electric bikes, and even cars.. They also suggest using the manufacturer's cord and power adapter made specifically . "It's a concerning trend that we are seeing similarly across the world in New Yorkand in London," hetold 7.30. NFPA 855 requires a design density of 03. For example, a laptop lithium-ion battery caught fire and injured a person, a smartphone battery exploded inside a student's pocket, a vape pen EV Battery Fires: What Consumers Should Know - Forbes Wheels Cat is the editor of TechRadar's sister site Advnture. Put your device on a non-flammable surface when charging. According to the latest statistics on electric cars catching fire, there are 52 reported fires in 2020. Once one battery cell overheats, the adjacent ones follow (a process called thermal runaway) and the heat and pressure soon becomes too much to contain, resulting in an explosion. The above tips have their merits for consumers and small business owners, but what about business owners who store several of these batteries in large quantities and the fire protection contractors that need to protect these facilities? The concern of lithium-ion battery fires in cars was so much that it even negatively impacted Teslas stock in 2013. Call the device manufacturer or retailer for further instructions. We believe everyone at Aviva should be able to be themselves. According to a new report shared by The Guardian, between March 2019 and March 2020, discarded lithium-ion batteries caused at least 250 fires at waste facilities across the U.K., accounting for more than a third of all the facilities' fires. Firefighters later identified the fuel source as the SUV's high-voltage battery pack. 7 Tips for Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety. 2019-2024 Jaguar I-Pace recalled over battery fire concern Recycle it instead. And concerns grew due to defects that caused a number of Samsung smartphones to burst into flames. We help our18.7 million customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong well be there to put it right. The sprinkler system water supply should be designed for the total room area where the ESS is located, and the water supply should be calculated as 45 minutes times the number of adjacent racks.. Larger lithium batteries are also used to power things like electric scooters, hoverboards, ebikes and even electric cars. "When LiBs [lithium-ion batteries] fail they can undergo thermal runaway. Dont overload electrical sockets. Since wind and solar power depends on the environment, ESS systems allows for the supply of electricity to be more consistent. On average, 213,000 cars catch fire every year in the United States. The National Fire Protection Association has its own safety tip sheet on lithium-ion battery safety, which provides information on safe use of products powered by lithium-ion batteries, along with guidance on what to do if a lithium-ion fire occurs. Aviva issues warning as battery chargers lead to fires Mr Curtin from Fire and Rescue NSW said Australian authorities arewatching closely how the issue isplaying out in overseas jurisdictions that are further ahead in the uptake of light electric vehicles. In 2021, we announced our plan to become Net Zero by 2040, the first major insurance company in the world to do so. In 2019, a hazmat fire team responded to a call at an energy storage system (ESS). Data from investis. In the event of a fire, the fire will not spread and if provided a sprinkler system inside the shipping container can continuously provide water on the fire. Discover our people, diversity and follow us on social media. But, for the moment, dealers hands are tied with the two electric vehicles because of recent recalls related to battery fires. 2023 BBC. Jeff stressed that contractors and property owners should consult with a fire protection engineer when planning a protection plan for a sprinkler system that stores lithium-ion batteries. Ford recalled more than 20,000 plug-in hybrids in Europe because they also could overheat and catch fire.