Exploding Lithium Battery
The silent killers hiding in our electric vehicles, phones, and homes—and why fire departments worldwide are sounding the alarm
Brooklyn, New York — November 2024
The Brooklyn fire happened in November 2024. Two electric scooters, three lives lost. FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh stood at the press conference and announced that 17 people had already died from lithium battery fires in New York City that year. She used a phrase that would resonate across headlines worldwide: ticking time bombs.
Ticking time bombs
— Laura Kavanagh, FDNY Commissioner, November 2024
United Kingdom: Alarming Numbers
The UK numbers are even more frightening. Fire data obtained by QBE Insurance showed that lithium battery fires surged 93% between 2022 and 2024. In 2024 alone, there were 1,330 incidents, with electric bicycles accounting for 362 of them. The London Fire Brigade reported that in 2023, on average, one electric vehicle caught fire every two days.
(2022-2024)
UK 2024
UK 2024
frequency
Fatal Incidents Worldwide
A man in his seventies lost his life. In the early morning of August 3, 2024, an electric scooter battery caught fire, engulfing the entire house in flames. A man in his thirties who lived with him managed to escape. The elderly man did not make it out.
Also in August—the 7th—a family's electric scooter exploded while charging. The house was completely destroyed by fire. Three people were pulled from the rubble by firefighters.
Aviation: Crisis in the Skies
The Federal Aviation Administration recorded 89 aviation lithium battery incidents in 2024. California Irvine, Uniontown New York, Hong Kong, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Washington Dulles Airport, Asunción Paraguay, Memphis—packages smoking, packages burning, packages exploding. At Washington Dulles, when ground crew opened a package, they found 25 spare phone batteries inside. Three of them had already melted together, burning through the inner packaging.
Washington Dulles
Ground crew discovered 25 spare phone batteries—three had melted together, burning through packaging.
Global Incidents
Hong Kong, Paris CDG, Memphis, Paraguay—a worldwide pattern of battery incidents in air cargo.
89 Incidents
FAA recorded 89 aviation lithium battery incidents throughout 2024.
The Numbers Don't Lie
UL Solutions compiled the data: in 2023, there were over 1,600 lithium battery fires in the United States, resulting in 611 injuries and 115 deaths.
US Statistics 2023
Aviation Statistics 2024
Passenger Risk Factor
96% of passengers board aircraft carrying lithium battery devices—averaging four items per person. 38% of passengers place lithium battery devices in checked luggage.
Understanding Thermal Runaway
Thermal runaway—a term battery researchers use every day. The battery's internal temperature rises uncontrollably, triggering a chain exothermic reaction that can surge to 400°C within milliseconds. Lithium-ion batteries become dangerous once they exceed 80°C.
Physical Damage
Impact, puncture, crushing, or compression can compromise the battery's internal structure
Electrical Issues
Overcharging or over-discharging can destabilize the battery's chemistry
Heat Sources
Proximity to fire, extreme temperatures, or prolonged sun exposure
Internal short circuits are the most common trigger. When the separator fails and the positive and negative electrodes make contact, temperatures immediately skyrocket.
When Batteries Burn, They Exhale Poison
Burning batteries release gases. Lithium hexafluorophosphate reacts with moisture in the air to form hydrogen fluoride. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen are all present. Fine particulate matter laden with heavy metals is released into the air, ready to be inhaled into human lungs.
The Firefighter's Nightmare
Firefighters find lithium battery fires their worst nightmare. Foam is useless—only water works, and massive amounts of it. In March 2024 in Illinois, an electric vehicle caught fire on the highway. Three fire departments responded, pouring thousands of liters of water, with the road closed for nearly three hours. Electric vehicle battery fires can reach temperatures of 2,700°C.
Saltwater: The Hidden Trigger
After Hurricane Ian passed through, Florida saw multiple electric vehicles burst into flames. Batteries soaked in seawater short-circuit.
Legislative Response
The UK Parliament is currently reviewing two bills: one addressing product safety, and another specifically targeting the storage, use, and disposal of lithium batteries.
The Reckoning Has Begun
From Brooklyn apartments to British homes, from airplane cargo holds to Florida streets after hurricanes—lithium batteries have become an integral part of modern life. But the flames they can unleash remind us: convenience always comes with a price. The question is whether we're willing to pay it.