Consumers have been urged to avoid misusing lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries after recent explosions, according to fire provision authorities on Oct. 18.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) Acting Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said Li-ion batteries, found in most mobile phones, laptops, tablets, e-scooters, e-bikes, and power tools, should be used with the charger supplied. However, some consumers are mixing and matching charges.
“And the other thing happening is people are using cheap imports or substitute products,” Mr. Fewtrell told 2GB radio.
“Issues could happen with any battery, but you certainly reduce your chances with well-known reputable brands and sticking with the associated charges.”
Further, he warned about self-made batteries from YouTube or internet instructions, which have also resulted in a few home fires.
“It’s essential everyone knows their limits, and certainly playing in the space of Li-ion batteries is something I would recommend no one does alone,” he said.
Recent Concerns over NSW Fires
It comes after FRNSW crews saved an inner-city basement-level studio apartment from a faulty Li-ion e-bike battery explosion and fire on Oct. 16 at 11:20 a.m.
Firefighters said the Li-ion e-bike battery overheated whilst charging, causing the blaze in Yurong Street, Darlinghurst.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated a 50-year-old man for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Meanwhile, CCTV footage captured two backpackers caught in a fireball when another e-bike Li-ion battery exploded inside a hostel in Darlinghurst on Oct. 4.
It’s suspected the battery was left on charge, too.
An image showing fire after a lithium battery was said to explode at a Sydney hostel on Oct. 4 2023. Courtesy of Fire and Rescue NSW
One of the men, aged in his 20s, sustained minor burns to his leg and was transported to St Vincent’s Hospital for further treatment while fire crews managed to contain damage to one unit before extinguishing the blaze a short time later.
As a result, Mr. Fewtrell advised against charging e-bikes in a stairway, exit door or common area, instead setting them in a safe place outside for a short time so they don’t obstruct exits in a fire event.
“We want people not to put them on charge when they go to bed at night and think, oh, I'll leave it on charge and get it off in the morning, precisely because if something goes wrong, they do go bad very quickly,” he said.
In the first six months of 2023, there were 114 lithium battery-related fires concerning power packs and chargers, e-bikes, e-scooters and portable power banks.
There has been an almost 20 percent increase in battery-related fire or explosion incidents when comparing the first half of 2023 to the first half of 2022, according to FRNSW data.
Meanwhile, since 2020, NSW Sutherland Shire Council has had seven significant incidents where garbage trucks caught fire after Li-ion batteries were thrown in bins.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the sight of flames erupting from a truck reminds the community that bins are not the place for batteries.
“The good news is we can recycle 95 percent of batteries. But at the moment, only 10 percent are being recycled,” Ms. Sharpe said, calling for households to “take charge” of battery waste.
“Households must give them a new life by taking them to your closest collection site or using your council’s e-waste services. It’s better for the environment and much safer,” she said.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority will also roll out social media content that warns of battery risks and advises appropriately disposing of old, unused or dead batteries.
Governments Should Ensure Safe Batteries, ACCC Says
One Australian fatality and numerous injury reports were attributed to Li-ion batteries, according to an Australian Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC) report released on Oct. 5ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe called for the government to continue developing solutions to ensure batteries are safely designed and can be sustainably disposed of.
Australian Battery Industry Association (ABIA) and the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI) backed the consumer watchdog’s recommendations, calling on federal and state governments to implement safe disposal.
Australian Battery Recycling Industry To Grow
However, the Australian battery recycling industry is set to multiply and make a significant economic contribution, adding approximately $1.3 billion in value and 6,000 jobs, according to the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI).ABRI CEO Katharine Hole said one growth area was the Li-ion battery industry, with five ABRI members expanding and developing recycling projects.
“It is creating a new industry to supply Australian manufacturing with low carbon minerals and, importantly, boosting critical minerals security,” Ms. Hole said.
“Recovering minerals from lithium batteries reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent compared with mining virgin materials,” she said.
She added batteries lead in delivering circular economy goals; around 95 percent of materials can be recovered for alternative use or turned into new batteries.
It comes after Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic launched consultations for the country’s first National Battery Strategy on Feb. 3 to “find ways to get our country manufacturing Aussie batteries.”
“Large-scale uptake and manufacture of batteries will be vital to transitioning towards net-zero. New battery capacity will help support grid-scale capacity, power our homes, and electrify our transport sector,” Mr. Husic said.
He said battery technology would also work to support Australia’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy and Critical Minerals Strategy.
