Are lithium-ion batteries causing fires?

Lithium-ion batteries became the leading cause of fire deaths in New York City last year and are now a factor in half of the nation’s trash-truck load fires. A fire from a portable battery engulfed a plane on the tarmac in South Korea in January, and U.S. air safety regulators say lithium-ion battery fires occur nearly twice per week.

Do lithium batteries burn at high temperatures?

“Lithium battery fires burn at high temperatures and emit toxic gases,” said Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra Energy, the Texas-based company that owns the plant. The batteries, crucial for California’s renewable energy efforts, store electricity generated by solar power for use at night.

Are lithium-ion batteries causing fires in New York City?

Keith Glenn, an on-scene coordinator for the EPA, holds a handful of shredded lithium-ion batteries at the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot in Pacific Palisades on March 15. Lithium-ion batteries became the leading cause of fire deaths in New York City last year and are now a factor in half of the nation’s trash-truck load fires.

What could cause fires in the waste stream before lithium-ion batteries became common?

Lots of things could cause fires in the waste stream, long before lithium-ion batteries became common: "Fireworks, pool chemicals, hot (barbecue) briquettes," writes Ryan Fogelman, partner and vice president of early fire protection in Fire Rover, in an email to Ars.

Why are lithium batteries a risk?

The batteries become a risk when they enter thermal runaway, a state that can be triggered by overcharging, manufacturing errors or physical damage that can lead to fire. Keith Glenn walks through an EPA staging area where lithium-ion batteries, collected from the Palisades fire, are shredded at the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot.

Are lithium phosphate batteries safe?

Lithium iron phosphate batteries are a possible alternative because they are highly stable, but they still carry some fire risk. No matter what kind of lithium battery you use, “when you reach a certain size, it is inherently very dangerous and easy to catch fire,” said Yiguang Ju, engineering professor at Princeton University.