The lithium battery problem has hit Australia - fire on Domestic Flight

[RSD]

The last stats I saw for AU , there had been 4 EV fires. None have been spontaneous. 3 due to traffic accident. 1 one caught in a fire (not initiated by the car).

On the other hand you need to be a lot more worried about e-scooters, many issues reported.

My Samsung phone overheated (not on charge, switched on, not in use) and I caught it in time before it started a fire in my kitchen. Turned into a brick and I took it back and got an iPhone as replacement

There is an old saying about statistics. There have been far more than 4 EV fires in Australia, but the reason they have been reported as being EV fires is due to the FIRS systems and incident-type classification systems that fire services use.

The majority of EV fires have occurred when they are being charged. From what I have seen - the majority of PHEV EV's are charged at home overnight in the garage. If a car (of any type) catches fire in a garage then it is not recorded in the data capture systems as being a car fire - instead it is classified as being a structure fire. There are a number of weird things in the incident classification systems that can upset data collection. If a ship catches fire then it is a ship fire - unless the ship is tied up at a wharf in which case it is classed as a structure fire. Another data capture error relates to the colour of a car that has caught fire - you may be surprised to learn that just about every car that catches fire in Australia is "black" - until you think about it for another two seconds.

 

[AuSammy]

There is an old saying about statistics. There have been far more than 4 EV fires in Australia, but the reason they have been reported as being EV fires is due to the FIRS systems and incident-type classification systems that fire services use.

The majority of EV fires have occurred when they are being charged. From what I have seen - the majority of PHEV EV's are charged at home overnight in the garage. If a car (of any type) catches fire in a garage then it is not recorded in the data capture systems as being a car fire - instead it is classified as being a structure fire. There are a number of weird things in the incident classification systems that can upset data collection. If a ship catches fire then it is a ship fire - unless the ship is tied up at a wharf in which case it is classed as a structure fire. Another data capture error relates to the colour of a car that has caught fire - you may be surprised to learn that just about every car that catches fire in Australia is "black" - until you think about it for another two seconds.

Keen to see references, data

 

[RSD]

Keen to see references, data

I'm no longer a volly firefighter/officer so I don't have access to the systems, but I used to command incidents and complete incident reports so had to know how things worked and how incidents were classified etc. Part of why a car on fire in a garage is a structure fire not a car fire is because a structure fire gets more resources initially assigned to it when it is dispatched (usually) than what a car fire call will get - the CAD centre has the ability to assign additional resources to the job if they receive information from the callers that indicate that more might be required.

 

[AuSammy]

I'm no longer a volly firefighter/officer so I don't have access to the systems, but I used to command incidents and complete incident reports so had to know how things worked and how incidents were classified etc. Part of why a car on fire in a garage is a structure fire not a car fire is because a structure fire gets more resources initially assigned to it when it is dispatched (usually) than what a car fire call will get - the CAD centre has the ability to assign additional resources to the job if they receive information from the callers that indicate that more might be required.

This is one of the sources I used. Also several ABC and other media articles.

Electric vehicles fact check

Learn the facts about EVs and use them to help reduce the spread of misinformation.

www.energyandclimate.qld.gov.au

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Fire likelihood​

Fact: EVs are far less likely to catch fire than petrol vehicles​

Worldwide studies show EVs have a far lower risk of catching fire than internal combustion vehicles.

The International Energy Agency reports there are now 40 million EVs on the roadworldwide.

From 2010 to June 2024, EV FireSafe recorded 511 verified passenger EV battery fires across the world. It says 6 EVs caught fire in Australia between 2010 and September 2023.

In comparison, there were 2,803 internal combustion vehicle fires in NSW alone in the 2022–23 financial year according to Fire and Rescue NSW incident data.


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One anecdote in an interview, most fire stations attend at least one ICE fire a week. Most have never encountered an EV fire.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sure these are OK?

 

[mrsterryn]

This is one of the sources I used. Also several ABC and other media articles.

Electric vehicles fact check

Learn the facts about EVs and use them to help reduce the spread of misinformation.

www.energyandclimate.qld.gov.au

------

Fire likelihood​

Fact: EVs are far less likely to catch fire than petrol vehicles​

Worldwide studies show EVs have a far lower risk of catching fire than internal combustion vehicles.

The International Energy Agency reports there are now 40 million EVs on the roadworldwide.

From 2010 to June 2024, EV FireSafe recorded 511 verified passenger EV battery fires across the world. It says 6 EVs caught fire in Australia between 2010 and September 2023.

In comparison, there were 2,803 internal combustion vehicle fires in NSW alone in the 2022–23 financial year according to Fire and Rescue NSW incident data.


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One anecdote in an interview, most fire stations attend at least one ICE fire a week. Most have never encountered an EV fire.

Wouldn't that be dependent of ratio EV to petrol ? Using the scenario one ice fire a week to negligible EV isn't that a bit oranges and apples ? I know my son's old car wasn't the most flame resistant lol

 

[AuSammy]

Wouldn't that be dependent of ratio EV to petrol ? Using the scenario one ice fire a week to neglivle EV isn't that a bit oranges and apples ? I know my son's old car wasn't the most flame resistant lol

Agree with the comment and there is a big difference in magnitude of ICE on the road compared to EV.

However, the ratio of vehicles doesn't cover the huge gulf of difference in fires.

6EVs over Ten years over all of Australia

511 EV fires in 15years across the world's 40,000,000 units.

2803 ICE in One year in One state.

Yes, one could argue not many EVs ten years ago.

And yes, one can argue many of the ICE vehicles are older and out of warrantee etc etc but they have had a century to evolve and improve to minimise such risks.

However, relatively new EV technology is changing and evolving at a blinding pace.

Time will tell as the EVs age and they grow in proportion of units on the road.

IMHO I think the answer is in the future and the doom and gloom of EV batteries based on current experience the status quo is very overblown.

 

[serfty]

I just hope they can tell the difference between lithium type rechargeable batteries and other battery chemistries that do no experience thermal runaway or spontaneous ignition. I am thinking of NiMH rechargeable AA/AAA type batteries that I use in things like wireless mouse and Bose QC15 headphones.

The only lithium-based rechargeable batteries I travel with are installed in my laptop, iPad and phone, and maybe my Plantronics Bluetooth ear-piece battery is lithium??

Sometime you simply cannot argue ... even if you know their interpretation is incorrect.

Post in thread 'Portable battery banks'

Mar 25, 2025

The problem is what do you define as "lithium battery pack". ...

Dunno, I was relieved of two spare AAA Alkaline batteries departing NZ last month at security. I said "Alkaline"; they said "Batteries".

• serfty

• 

 

[RSD]

Sometime you simply cannot argue ... even if you know their interpretation is incorrect.

Post in thread 'Portable battery banks'

Mar 25, 2025

The problem is what do you define as "lithium battery pack". ...

Dunno, I was relieved of two spare AAA Alkaline batteries departing NZ last month at security. I said "Alkaline"; they said "Batteries".

• serfty

• 

There is also the problem that when a lot of people think of batteries they are referring to lithium ion batteries - but there are a lot of other lithium battery chemistries as well - I've made that mistake at check-in before. I actually raised this problem in a conversation with QF's dangerous goods gurus when I had to get special approval for some batteries.

 

[jastel]

About 7 years ago I was on a tour in China and everyone had their power banks confiscated.
I didnt have one back then.

Any Battery can start a fire if it shorts out...Lithium ones are just worse.
Mobiles cop most of the blame as they are what need charging the most, but a damaged hearing aid, shaver, torch, apple bag tag or any electric device can all short out during travel.

Batteries in packets or inside devices are usually OK but loose ones must be taped up so they cant spark off other things. I guess airlines are going the simplest way and banning extra batteries and powerbanks.

I agree any batteries should be easily accessible in hand luggage.

In many airports you can buy batteries or powerbanks AFTER security anyway...like everything, it is up to people to use common sense, scarce as that is.

 

[Himeno]

In many airports you can buy batteries or powerbanks AFTER security anyway...like everything, it is up to people to use common sense, scarce as that is.

Often at double the price of the same thing outside the airport.

 

[jastel]

Double?? Thats a bargain! What airport?

 

[PERLHR]

Well this is enough for me ..

Power bank recalls on the rise due to serious burn and property damage risks

The ACCC is urging consumers to be alert to a growing list of recalled wireless power banks, which have the potential to cause serious burns and property damage.

www.accc.gov.au

 

[DejaBrew]

Well this is enough for me ..

Power bank recalls on the rise due to serious burn and property damage risks

The ACCC is urging consumers to be alert to a growing list of recalled wireless power banks, which have the potential to cause serious burns and property damage.

www.accc.gov.au

It's concerning that there are a number of reputable brand names in the mix there, but I do note that the common denominator appear to be that they're wireless chargers.

 

[NM]

It's concerning that there are a number of reputable brand names in the mix there, but I do note that the common denominator appear to be that they're wireless chargers.

Perhaps the high number of "reputable brands" on this list is because its the reputable brands that follow the processes and issue recalls while the lesser-known brands just deny or bury their heads in the sand? And of course such process does not apply to people buying from cheap international sources.