Are lithium-ion batteries dangerous?

Lithium batteries are generally safe and unlikely to fail, but only so long as there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged. When lithium batteries fail to operate safely or are damaged, they may present a fire and/or explosion hazard.

Despite its popularity, lithium safety has been one of the concerns for users and manufacturers across the world. These safety issues are largely due to instability and extreme sensitivity at high temperatures. Inadequate quality, flawed battery design, physical abuse, and improper discharging and charging are some leading causes of rapid explosion and fire in these batteries. Nowadays, lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries are designed with some safety measures such as pressure-relief devices and positive temperature coefficient (ptc) resistors, which act as a fuse. Although these features help reduce risks to a large extent, it is still recommended to store damaged or end-of-life lithium batteries safely before sending them to the nearest recycling center.

Lithium Batteries Production Defects

Production/design defects such as improper thermal management are one of the most common causes of battery failure. Today, manufacturers seem to be racing to make the smallest, lightest and thinnest devices possible, but that doesn't always leave enough room for lithium batteries to properly dissipate heat. Once the battery overheats, a chemical reaction can occur that can lead to a fire or explosion. This chemical reaction, known as "thermal runaway," is common in many Samsung smartphone recalls.

Lithium Batteries cheap components

Companies often try to cut material and manufacturing costs to boost profits, but this always leads to bigger problems once a product hits the market. Poor quality control and improper battery insulation were the main causes of hoverboard fires in 2017. Reduce the risk of fire by avoiding buying from companies that use cheap internal parts or sell "counterfeit" products of well-known products. It's not worth sacrificing your own personal safety to save a few bucks.

Lithium Batteries without battery management system (bms)

Having a battery management system is critical to maximizing the capacity, lifespan, and safety of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (cells or packs). Bms is used to monitor and balance battery voltage, state of charge, depth of discharge, state of health, power state, temperature, current, etc. Lithium battery power uses custom bms in every battery we sell to ensure a flawless operating experience throughout the life of your energy unit. If there is any problem with the battery running efficiently then the bms will tell it to shut down (similar to how a surge protector works).

Improper charging system of Lithium Batteries

Just like the dangers of companies trying to save money by using cheap batteries, skimping on installing quality components inside the charger creates safety concerns. Inexpensive chargers don't have power management features or good insulation to hit low prices. In some extreme cases, this poor wiring can result in a short circuit, fire or even electric shock.

Improperly packaged or assembled Lithium Batteries

Another thing to watch out for are companies that don't take the time to assemble or package batteries properly. Because lithium-ion batteries pack a lot of energy into a small package, each battery must be manufactured, handled and shipped with care. Controlling these volatile chemicals falls entirely on the shoulders of manufacturers. Thankfully, lbp has checks and balances in place to ensure that every battery is shipped to our customers in the safest way possible. This may result in slightly higher than normal shipping rates, so please see our site's shipping calculator for pricing estimates.

What is the leading cause of lithium-ion battery failure?

One of the most common failures is the result of the battery pack overheating. Overcharging the battery is one cause to heating issues. The excess charge combines with higher temperatures (such as direct sunlight)

Is the production of lithium-ion batteries bad for the environment?

Lithium mining is a source of pollution and can have negative environmental impacts. However, there is no reason to think it will have a worse impact than the ongoing one caused by pumping oil out of the deep soil, by refining it and by transporting it to petrol stations all around the globe (by boat and car).

Are lithium batteries an environmental problem?

Of more concern are the environmental and social costs of extracting and processing the minerals required for battery manufacturing. Lithium mining from salt brines in south america is associated with concerns of contaminating local water basins and the salinisation of freshwater needed by local communities.

How do i know if my lithium-ion battery is damaged?

There are 5 warning signs that your lithium battery is damaged:

The capacity is reduced.

The voltage is low.

The self-discharge rate is high.

The battery is overheating.

The battery is bloated.