Intense chemical reaction
Enjoying the comfort provided by technology every day, devices that don’t discharge for a very long time, we probably don’t even think about what’s really going on inside them. According to the head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at “Vilnius Tech” prof. Dr. Sonata Tolvaišienė, the lithium-ion batteries in devices constantly undergo an intense chemical reaction, which is why devices are not properly maintained and become so dangerous.
“The secret of the composition of lithium-ion batteries is the chemical components: anode, cathode, electrolyte and separator. The anode is usually made of graphite, the cathode is made of metal. The electrolyte, usually in the form of a lithium salt solution, allows the ions to move, while the separator prevents them from colliding. The movement of ions activates free electrons and all this creates a chemical reaction that generates an electric charge”, explains S. Tolvaišienė.
The expert adds that this principle of operation creates a much higher electric charge than many other types of batteries, ensures longevity and a low self-discharge rate. This is why lithium batteries are so widely used in electronics and vehicles.
The most dangerous are powerful devices
According to S. Tolvaišienė, the danger of lithium-ion batteries depends on the type of device, its power and its usage habits.
“Devices that generate a lot of energy, are frequently used, or are damaged have the greatest risk of overheating, catching fire, or experiencing a short circuit. For example, we do not let go of our hands and constantly transport laptops, tablets and phones. It is not uncommon for these devices to fail to protect against drops, shocks, moisture ingress – this easily damages the battery and may cause a fire in the future,” she says.
Most of us also wear small pieces of technology on a daily basis, such as smart watches, body monitoring and medical devices. They contain smaller lithium-ion batteries, but they can also cause health problems or fires if damaged.
According to the expert, despite the protections installed by manufacturers, mobile technologies such as drones and vehicles are the most vulnerable to violations. “Such devices are constantly affected by outdoor conditions – heat, cold, humidity, and we ourselves protect them less,” she observes. – We pick up the fallen scooters without even thinking that impact after impact causes damage to the battery, which may one day turn into an explosion. It’s the same with drones – if a drone’s battery failure is not noticed in time, the flight can end in injury to people or even a traffic accident.”
If you do not assess the conditions, the losses are huge
Insurance representatives note that explosions caused by scooters in apartments have encouraged residents to take an interest in insurance.
“We felt a great interest after the apartment explosion that occurred in Vilnius, on Viršuliškių street, which caused losses to the entire apartment building. Since then, we have been recording more and more requests with a similar message appearing almost every month. Unfortunately, the probability that similar disasters will increase in the future is increasing. However, devices age, wear out naturally, and after they have served their purpose and can be professionally repaired, they go to the secondary market,” says Julija Judickienė, head of the Product and Risk Assessment Department of the non-life insurance company Compensa Vienna Insurance Group.
When choosing or already having insurance for electric scooters, drones or other powerful devices, experts advise paying attention to the types of insurance and carefully assessing the conditions. It is important to know that there are 3 insurance options available: single device insurance, home property insurance and civil liability insurance.
“In the case of individual device insurance, in the event of an event, the damage suffered by a specific device is compensated. If other property is additionally damaged during the incident, such as interior decoration, things, the damage is not covered. In the case of housing property insurance, when movable and immovable property is insured, the damage caused to the property damaged in the premises of the insured object and to the premises itself would be compensated. In the case of civil liability insurance, losses incurred by third parties, such as neighbors, would also be compensated. In this case, it is necessary to make sure that the insurance amounts are sufficient”, says J. Judickienė.
According to her, residents usually choose property manager’s civil liability insurance for 5,000-15,000 thousand. the amount of euros – in such a case, if the fire caused extreme damage to the neighbors, it would not be sufficient.
How to avoid losses?
Experts agree that the best protection in this case is prevention. According to S. Tolvaišienė, in order to avoid unexpected damage to devices with lithium-ion batteries, it would be worthwhile to purchase devices from certified suppliers, familiarize yourself with the operating recommendations specified by the manufacturer and follow them.
“If a used device is purchased, we recommend having it checked by specialists and evaluating its quality before use. In the same way, if there are suspicions or even the smallest malfunctions, do not try to disassemble or repair it yourself, but contact professionals,” advises the scientist.
According to the expert, even small devices with lithium-ion batteries should not be left charging at home without supervision. Larger equipment – scooters, bicycles, is recommended to be loaded in non-residential premises, not to be left to be loaded overnight. It is also important to use only original, certified chargers, avoid extension cords.
When devices with lithium-ion batteries are not in use, it is necessary to store them safely – preferably in uninhabited, dry rooms, disconnected from the electrical outlet.
What gives out battery failures?
The expert emphasizes that it is very difficult to control the affected chemical reaction, so it is necessary to inspect your technologies periodically.
“Usually, external mechanical damage or cracks can be observed quite clearly. For them, you should contact specialists as soon as possible. If the device heats up more than usual or makes a crackling noise, this is also a sign that the battery is no longer usable. In this case, you should disconnect the device from the power supply and, if possible, take it outside. If it is not possible to disconnect the device, it is worth turning off the general electricity supply and turning to specialists”, advises S. Tolvaišienė.
In case of fire, the small device can be extinguished with a non-combustible cloth. The device can be extinguished with water only when it is disconnected from the mains. If it is estimated that it will not be possible to extinguish the fire, it is necessary to call the fire brigade.
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