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The dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries were highlighted recently when a hybrid vehicle’s battery caught fire in Whangaparāoa.
The vehicle first came to emergency services’ attention early in the morning on Kings Birthday, Monday June 3, when it was reported to police partially submerged in the sea at Army Bay. It had not been reported stolen. Police were later advised that a group of locals had been able to move the vehicle out of the water.
However, when smoke was seen issuing from the car, Manly Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to the scene at 10.42am.
A fire investigator later confirmed that the fire was due to the battery being compromised by water.
Manly fire’s chief fire officer Craig Mcdonald says it was the first electric battery fire his brigade had attended. The Manly crew worked with Auckland Council to move the vehicle to a safe location away from the public and anything that could catch on fire. They were at the scene for more than six hours, supported by a Silverdale crew who brought additional water.
Waitemata Fire District assistant commander Katie Pocock was in charge at the incident. She says the battery was engaged in ‘thermal runaway’, which means that while the fire can be extinguished, it continues to re-ignite until all the energy is discharged.
“When thermal runaway occurs, all we can do is protect the surrounding area, ensure no more damage occurs and wait for the process to end,” Pocock says. “We continued to extinguish fires around the vehicle until we got it to a safe place and then we let it burn until sufficient energy had been expelled and we could fully extinguish the vehicle with no risk of thermal runaway occurring and creating another fire.”
She says internationally, everyone is still learning about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries involved in fire and the process and impacts of thermal runaway.
“What we do know is that the chances of lithium-ion batteries being engaged in thermal runaway resulting in gas generation, pressure buildup, and ultimately a fire, are significantly greater if they are damaged or compromised, as this one was by water.”
Fires from lithium-ion batteries also produce a toxic gas, which makes it unsafe for people to put out those fires themselves.
Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) advises anyone who owns an electric or hybrid vehicle that has been damaged or involved in an accident to seek professional advice and, if in doubt, store it outside, away from structures until it can be properly assessed.
Lithium-ion battery safety
Fires can also be started by faulty or damaged lithium batteries in ‘light EVs’ such as electric scooters and e-bikes, as well as items such as phones and laptops, particularly while charging. • Battery fires are on the rise, powered by the increase in the number of hybrid and electric cars in use, as well as other products with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. • A report commissioned by FENZ in 2020 looked into the number and impact of fires caused by lithium batteries. It identified the rising trend, noting that if that growth continued, by 2025 there could be as many as 80 incidents reported per year, and many more that are likely to go unreported. • This year, FENZ will run its second campaign to build awareness of the fire risk associated with charging lithium-ion-powered devices. FENZ advice is to use the correct charging cables, avoid overcharging, and to store items with these batteries in them in a cool, dry place, away from flammable materials. Info: https://www.fireandemergency.nz/home-fire-safety/home-fire-hazards/lithium-ion-battery-safety/
Truck fires on the rise
Lithium batteries, disposable vapes and other electrical items placed in rubbish bins are increasingly putting waste truck drivers, and the public, at risk. Nine recycling and rubbish trucks caught fire in Auckland in the first three months of this year, compared with 13 for the whole of last year. Three trucks were so badly damaged they had to be taken off the road for repairs. Auckland Council’s waste solutions general manager Parul Sood says these fires pose a risk to the public too, and the main culprits are likely to be lithium batteries, disposable vapes and other electrical items placed in kerbside collection bins. During compaction in the truck, lithium batteries can rupture, causing them to ignite. “When a fire sparks in the back of a truck, drivers must act fast to enact protocols which often involve ejecting the load onto the road for fire crews to extinguish,” Sood says. Correct disposal is essential for hazardous items, including battery powered or electrical devices. Items that cannot be put in rubbish or recycling bins include car batteries, e-scooters, jump-start packs and lithium batteries or devices containing those batteries (laptops, mobile phones, vapes, hearing aids, power tools, etc). Batteries, including small lithium ones, are recyclable at Whangaparāoa Recycling Centre, 637 Whangaparāoa Rd, https://hibiscuscoastzerowaste.co.nz/wcrc More information on where to dispose of hazardous items safely, www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/whereitgoes
