The following information on what to do if a lithium -ion battery catches fire has been summarised from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services website. If a large device or battery is smoking or catches fire: Evacuate the area immediately. If it is safe to do so, close doors to stop the fire spreading.
If you’ve spotted the warning signs, make sure you report your faulty battery to your local Trading Standards office. If the device starts smoking or catches fire: Lithium batteries should not be placed in the same bins as your regular rubbish or recycling. If they get damaged or overheat, they may cause it to catch fire.
Why do lithium-ion batteries catch fire? Lithium-ion battery cells combine a flammable electrolyte with significant stored energy, and if a lithium-ion battery cell creates more heat than it can effectively disperse, it can lead to a rapid uncontrolled release of heat energy, known as ‘thermal runaway’, that can result in a fire or explosion.
Due to lithium-ion batteries generating their own oxygen during thermal runaway, it is worth noting that lithium-ion battery fires or a burning lithium ion battery can be very difficult to control. For this reason, it is worth understanding how lithium-ion fires can be controlled should a fire scenario happen.
According to the National Fire Prevention Agency, if an EV ever catches fire while you’re behind the wheel, immediately find a safe way to pull over and get the car away from the main road. Then, turn off the engine and make sure everyone leaves the vehicle immediately. Don’t delay things by grabbing personal belongings, just get out.
Why is water not enough to put out an EV or Lithium Battery fire? When a cell of a lithium battery overheats, the whole battery catches fire eventually; once a lithium battery is on fire, it is very hard to put out. Lithium-ion batteries react fiercely to water; it can take hours, maybe even days to put out the battery with just water.