PSA - E-Bike/Scooter Li Battery Fires

[Astronuc]

How E-Bike Battery Fires Became a Deadly Crisis in New York City​

https://www.yahoo.com/news/e-bike-battery-fires-became-120807964.html

Do not bring Li batteries into an apartment or occupied structure. They should be stored in non-flammable structures, either metal, brick or cement/concrete.

Alfonso Villa Muñoz was intrigued. He was working in a Brooklyn bodega last August when a delivery man said he knew someone selling one for $700. Muñoz said yes.

The scooter was cherry red with the number 7 on the front. Under the seat was an extra-large lithium ion battery. When it needed charging, Muñoz would remove the battery from the scooter and use both hands to lug it up to the couple’s third-floor apartment in College Point, Queens.

A month later, the battery exploded in the living room, unleashing flames that engulfed the apartment. Muñoz screamed for their 8-year-old daughter, Stephanie, who was asleep. He could not breach the wall of black smoke to get to her. Stephanie died from smoke inhalation.

Don't overcharge batteries.

Know what to do if one catches fire.

Keep them away from flammable materials.

Make sure the batteries are not counterfeit.

Be cautious of used or damaged batteries.

 

[mcastillo356]

Wikipedia mentions the risk, and the causes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

Greetings

 

[berkeman]

Know what to do if one catches fire.

What is the procedure? I haven't been trained on this fire source yet...

 

[Astronuc]

Best to cover it with a metal pot. Don't use water on large batteries, which might react chemically to produce hydrogen gas, which would be worse.

I have to do some research. Apparently 'small' Li-ion batteries can be dropped into a pot/bucket water.

Large Li-ion batteries, such as those used in vehicles apparently require a foam or dry extinguisher, e.g., ABC, D, CO2, or other powder.

One sites recommends:

• Small lithium-ion batteries can be doused with water because they contain little lithium metal. Lithium-metal battery fires can be put out with a Class D fire extinguisher.
• Larger battery fires are best handled with a foam extinguisher, CO2, ABC dry chemical, powder graphite, copper powder or sodium carbonate.

https://www.storen.tech/post/why-lithium-batteries-catch-fire-and-what-to-do

This seems to conflict with

Despite their name, lithium-ion batteries used in consumer products do not contain any lithium metal. Therefore, a Class D fire extinguisher is not to be used to fight a lithium-ion battery fire. Class D fire extinguishers, which contain dry powder, are intended for combustible metal fires only. Since lithium-ion batteries aren’t made with metallic lithium, a Class D dry powder extinguisher would not be effective.

So, how do you choose the right fire extinguisher in this scenario? Lithium-ion batteries are considered a Class B fire, so a standard ABC or dry chemical fire extinguisher should be used. Class B is the classification given to flammable liquids. Lithium-ion batteries contain liquid electrolytes that provide a conductive pathway, so the batteries receive a Class B fire classification.

I'll have to cross check with other sources. There seem to be some conflicts among sources.

About Li-ion Batteries (LiBs).
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/19/5117

Not about fire extinguisher, but safety tips and potential dangers of Li batteries.
https://www.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/codes/dangers-of-lithium-ion-batteries.pdf

 

[berkeman]

This seems to conflict with

This is weird; what does this mean?

Despite their name, lithium-ion batteries used in consumer products do not contain any lithium metal.

 

[Astronuc]

This is weird; what does this mean?

Yeah, I read that as well. It doesn't make sense, so I wonder about the source.

Perhaps they mean does not contain Li metal, but it could contain a Li compound and/or Li electrolyte.

 

[Swamp Thing]

There are metal boxes that are specifically made for charging and storing Li batteries:
https://www.bat-safe.com/

 

[Hornbein]

AFAIK this is true of all lithium batteries.

 

[berkeman]

AFAIK this is true of all lithium batteries.

Which what this?

 

[Hornbein]

Which what this?

Any lithium battery can shoot out flames.

 

[TeethWhitener]

This is weird; what does this mean?

Yeah, I read that as well. It doesn't make sense, so I wonder about the source.

Perhaps they mean does not contain Li metal, but it could contain a Li compound and/or Li electrolyte.

Lithium ion batteries generally refer to batteries where the anode is graphite and the cathode is a layered cobalt oxide (or something similar), and they’re separated by a liquid electrolyte solution (usually a lithium salt dissolved in something like ethylene carbonate). Upon charging, the lithium ions intercalate in the graphite, and upon discharging, they migrate to intercalate in the metal oxide.

Lithium batteries (without the word “ion”) are generally understood to actually contain lithium metal as the anode.