lithium-ion batteries News

Porsches and Lamborghinis Lost at Sea in Cargo-Ship Fire Could Cost $155 Million

The cargo ship that caught fire last week carrying about 4,000 Volkswagen AG vehicles could cost the automaker at least $155 million, according to one consultant’s estimate. Of the roughly $438 million total value of goods aboard the Felicity Ace, …

Update: Ship Carrying Porsches, Audis and Bentleys Catches Fire Near Azores

The Felicity Ace, a massive cargo ship carrying thousands of Volkswagen Group vehicles, caught fire near the Azores islands in the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday afternoon. The Panama-flagged ship’s 22 crewmembers were evacuated and taken to a local hotel by the …

Blast at Chinese Battery Recycler Draws Attention to Industry’s Supply Chain Risks

China’s biggest battery manufacturer has urged a focus on safety issues after an explosion at a recycling affiliate, which has drawn attention to the risks in the industry’s supply chain. The blast at a Hunan Brunp Recycling Technology Co. factory …

Climate-Friendly Battery Boom Presents Growing Fire Safety Challenge

The explosion ruptured the dusk settling over the desert in Surprise, Arizona. For hours, smoke had poured from a metal shed packed with lithium-ion batteries at a small electric substation. The batteries were tied to the electric grid, and somehow …

Hoverboard Catches Fire at Houston-Area Mall

Smoke briefly filled part of a large Houston-area shopping mall after a hoverboard caught fire. Police in the northeast Houston suburb of Humble say security staff at the Deerbrook Mall used a fire extinguisher to put out the small blaze …

Airlines Banning Bulk Shipments of Lithium Rechargeable Batteries

Replacing smartphone batteries just got harder. Fearing cargo fires like one that caused a United Parcel Service Inc. freighter to crash into the desert near Dubai in 2010, at least 18 airlines have banned freight shipments of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries …

Airbus’ Presentation Warned Airlines of Lithium Battery Risks a Year Ago

Airbus warned the airline industry of risks related to lithium batteries almost a year before two safety incidents grounded 787 Dreamliners built by its chief rival Boeing, according to a presentation seen by Reuters. The European plane maker spelled out …

Safety Board Looking at Whistleblower Claims in 787 Battery Case

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is looking at issues raised by more than one whistleblower as it investigates battery failures that have grounded the global fleet of 50 Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliners for a week. Michael Leon, one of …