LITHIUM-ION batteries have the least-hazardous ranking as 'miscellaneous dangerous substances' in the insurance sector and are sorely need of an upgrade, says the London-based TT Club, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
'Clearly there is a need for a radical review of this classification, as the size and energy capacity of these batteries has altered dramatically since then,' said TT Club risk manager Peregrine Storrs-Fox.
Apart from greater regulatory oversight, the uncertainties emerging amid soaring demand for lithium batteries and their transport now requires input from manufacturers to re-examine risks thoroughly, he said, adding that current assessments date back to the 1980s.
Said firefighting technical director Eva Mckiernan: 'Thermal runaway occurs when the heat and chemical reactions reach a certain level, they are effectively self-sustaining and very difficult to extinguish.'.
The dangers are particularly acute for the air cargo industry where the misdeclaration of lithium-ion batteries is typically a factor when counterfeit batteries are shipped out of Asia. Another problem area is the increasing volume of batteries ordered online that find their way into the postal system.
Over the last few years, two freighter aircraft have been lost to suspected lithium battery fires, while misdeclared or incorrectly packaged batteries are also believed to have been responsible for containership fires.
A shift from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles is under way worldwide. In Europe, electric vehicles comprised 14 per cent of the passenger car market, with hybrid electric cars holding a 25 per cent share, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
In the US, registration data from Experian shows all-electric vehicle sales in the first quarter were up 63 per cent year on year at seven per cent market share.
Lithium-ion batteries are also found in a variety of other goods, including e-bikes and scooters, computers, and mobile phones, most of which are transported by container with batteries inside.
'We need to bring manufacturers into the debate. Their ambitions to develop more powerful, lighter and diverse battery cells must not be allowed to outstrip safety around the globe,' said Mr Storrs-Fox.
SeaNews Turkey
'Clearly there is a need for a radical review of this classification, as the size and energy capacity of these batteries has altered dramatically since then,' said TT Club risk manager Peregrine Storrs-Fox.
Apart from greater regulatory oversight, the uncertainties emerging amid soaring demand for lithium batteries and their transport now requires input from manufacturers to re-examine risks thoroughly, he said, adding that current assessments date back to the 1980s.
Said firefighting technical director Eva Mckiernan: 'Thermal runaway occurs when the heat and chemical reactions reach a certain level, they are effectively self-sustaining and very difficult to extinguish.'.
The dangers are particularly acute for the air cargo industry where the misdeclaration of lithium-ion batteries is typically a factor when counterfeit batteries are shipped out of Asia. Another problem area is the increasing volume of batteries ordered online that find their way into the postal system.
Over the last few years, two freighter aircraft have been lost to suspected lithium battery fires, while misdeclared or incorrectly packaged batteries are also believed to have been responsible for containership fires.
A shift from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles is under way worldwide. In Europe, electric vehicles comprised 14 per cent of the passenger car market, with hybrid electric cars holding a 25 per cent share, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
In the US, registration data from Experian shows all-electric vehicle sales in the first quarter were up 63 per cent year on year at seven per cent market share.
Lithium-ion batteries are also found in a variety of other goods, including e-bikes and scooters, computers, and mobile phones, most of which are transported by container with batteries inside.
'We need to bring manufacturers into the debate. Their ambitions to develop more powerful, lighter and diverse battery cells must not be allowed to outstrip safety around the globe,' said Mr Storrs-Fox.
SeaNews Turkey
