Over 429,000 Lithium-ion Power Banks Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

More than 50 complaints were filed by customers against the product, including six incidents of burn injuries.

An image of the recalled Casely Wireless Portable Power Bank. CPSC

New York-based Casely Inc. is recalling roughly 429,200 power banks sold across the United States, citing a fire risk posed by its batteries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in an April 17 recall notice.

The recall is applicable to Casely Power Pods 5000mAh portable MagSafe wireless phone charger with model number E33A.

“The lithium-ion battery in the recalled power banks can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers,” the notice says.

The products, which are manufactured in China, were sold online through Casely as well as e-commerce platforms such as Amazon between March 2022 and September 2024 for around $30–$70.

According to the CPSC, the company received 51 complaints from customers of the lithium battery overheating, expanding, or catching fire while they were charging phones. These incidents resulted in six cases of minor burn injuries.

“Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled wireless portable power banks and contact Casely for a free replacement,” the notice says.

To receive a free replacement, those affected should go to the firm’s website and fill out an online form and add two photos of the faulty power bank. Proof of purchase is not required to claim the replacement.

The notice asked customers to dispose of the power banks in accordance with state and local regulations, warning against throwing them in the trash.

Lithium-ion batteries must be disposed of differently from other types of batteries as they pose a greater fire risk.

A number of recalls have been issued for power banks over the past year, citing lithium-ion fire hazards.

Last month, New York-based VC Group pulled around 89,500 units of wireless portable power banks due to the lithium battery posing a risk of overheating and igniting.

The company had received 19 reports of it overheating or catching fire, with the incidents leading to 10 minor injuries.

In mid-March, California-based Sublue Technology Inc. announced a recall of more than 40,000 lithium-ion batteries used in Sublue-branded underwater scooters, citing a fire hazard risk.

Sublue received 161 reports of batteries involved in thermal and swelling incidents. This resulted in eight fire incidents, one injury, and two reports of property damage worth over half a million dollars.

Tackling Lithium Fires

Lawmakers have taken steps to tackle the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries. On April 8, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed the “Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act” by a unanimous vote.

The bipartisan bill mandates the CPSC to publish a consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices such as e-bikes, according to a statement from the office of Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill.

The strengthened standards are expected to protect against the fire risks posed by these batteries.

Chief Josh Waldo, chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), welcomed the passage of the bill by the committee, according to an April 14 statement by IAFC.

“Enacting this legislation is the first step to preventing these dangerous batteries from wounding any more American citizens,” he said.

“For far too long, members of the fire service have had to deal with these dangerous and toxic fires. It is time for this harm and destruction to come to an end.”

The IAFC said the fire service continues to struggle to deal with fires triggered by lithium-ion batteries, warning that these fires “begin at an alarming rate of speed.”

“Lithium-ion battery fires also can give off gaseous toxic smoke which can affect anyone inhaling these fumes,” the group said.

“The toxicity is so high that when a firefighter’s turnout gear is exposed, it cannot be cleaned and disinfected: it must be completely replaced.”

A recent report from the nonprofit UL Standards & Engagement and Oxford Economics revealed the extensive monetary damage caused by fires from e-mobility devices, which typically use lithium-ion batteries.

It examined e-mobility fires that occurred in New York City between 2019 and 2023, and found that such fires cost the city almost $520 million.

“The number of e-mobility battery fires increased nearly 800 percent over the study period. In 2019, there were 21 e-mobility battery fires in New York City; in 2023, that figure dramatically increased to 187—a nearly 800 percent increase,” the report said.