Lithium battery fires have featured far too often in news headlines. These fires often ignite without warning, they’re difficult to extinguish and are not confined to #EVs. Everything from eScooters to electric toothbrushes carries the risk for #thermal runaway and considered hazardous materials.
I asked about the ACCC’s report on Lithium-Ion Batteries and Consumer Product Safety during the recent senate estimates. The report advocates for a national product safety incident database to capture lithium ion battery fires.
Senator Gallagher responded positively and I look forward to quick action on this problem from the Government.
Transcript
Senator ROBERTS: I want to refer to the ACCC’s Lithium-ion batteries and consumer product safety report that you issued this month. On page 6 it says:
… there is currently no national product safety incident database to capture data and support national identification and analysis of consumer product safety hazards. Instead, product safety incident data is fragmented across a range of government and non-government organisations. With appropriate funding, the ACCC considers it is best placed to administer a national product safety incident database—
which would include capturing lithium ion battery fires—
and recommends the ACCC is funded to develop and administer this.
Minister, electric products catching on fire seems to be a frequent and very serious problem. Tracking the data accurately would help inform the debate, assist customers to make good decisions and probably save lives. When will you implement this recommendation?
Senator Gallagher: Sorry, I don’t have the recommendation you’re referring to.
Senator ROBERTS: The ACCC recommends that it be the one to monitor and capture the data on lithium ion battery fires.
Senator Gallagher: I imagine this is something that will need the attention of governments. I’ve been watching it myself, with more and more reporting of these matters. I think it’s probably something that the federation is going to have to deal with, as it crosses over a number of responsibilities that would be state and Commonwealth.
Senator ROBERTS: Thank you.
I believe German CEO of rental car company Hertz has been sacked due to the purchase of 100,000 EV’s that nobody wants to rent . Now they are stuck with them and cannot sell them either . The problem with EV’s is sourcing a battery when needed due to freight companies not wanting to transport due to unstoppable fires that start unexpectedly , the cost , the cells wear out . Other issues are the amount of electricity required to charge them , distance of travel between charges , parts and high registration fees .
You only need to look at how many electric bicycles there’s for sale on market place , no one wants them because you don’t know what your getting . Batteries are the main issue
The key to preventing the substantial danger is in the composition of the battery itself so any fire dues not go full on and explode.
Living in a heavily fire zone wooded area (Hepburn Springs, Victoria) – I will NEVER buy or get into an electric vehicle as their combusting fireworks are well known to me
Shopping centres, ferries etc won’t allow them into their venues etc because of the dangers of fire which cannot be put out with water
I have been screaming from roof tops that if we are forced to own EVs and do not comply – we will be trapped in bushfire without any escape