{"id":750,"date":"2024-05-01T10:55:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T10:55:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wdenis.co.uk\/?p=750"},"modified":"2024-05-01T10:58:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T10:58:48","slug":"growing-concerns-over-product-liability-claims-from-lithium-ion-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wdenis.co.uk\/eu-en\/blog\/2024\/05\/01\/growing-concerns-over-product-liability-claims-from-lithium-ion-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing concerns over product liability claims from lithium-ion batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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There are growing concerns over the increasing risk of product liability claims and litigation arising from lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As of the end of March 2024,\u00a0 it is estimated there are now over 1,000,000 fully electric cars and around 60,000 electric vans on UK roads and a further 645,000 plug-in hybrids.<\/p>\n

In March 2022, approximately 4,000 vehicles were lost as a result of a fire on board the roll-on roll-off car carrier the Felicity Ace. The property damage, resulting from the ship\u2019s sinking with the estimated value of the cargo of vehicles on board, was between \u00a3319m ($400m) to \u00a3399m ($500m).<\/p>\n

According to Bloomberg, Porsche is being sued by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which operates the ship; and Allianz, which insured it. The suits claim\u00a0 a faulty \u00a0Electric Vehicle (EV) made by Porsche ignited the blaze, and that Volkswagen Group \u2013 which owns the car brands involved on the ship \u2013 didn\u2019t tell Mitsui and Allianz of the \u201cdangers and precautionary measures required to transport an EV.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Whilst the most significant losses have involved car carriers, the number of fires involving E-scooters, E-bikes and other Li-ion powered devices has increased.<\/p>\n

The British Safety Council has highlighted concerns, reporting that since 2020, 10 people in the UK have died from fires linked to Li-ion batteries, and 190 people have been injured. In 2023, firefighters in London fought more than 87 e-bike and 29 e-scooter blazes, a record for the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n

The manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the device containing the lithium battery in a fire incident may be liable for the injuries caused by the explosion.<\/p>\n

Li-ion batteries have become the most widely used battery technology in various fields such as automotive, power generation, communications, industry and other applications, including private ones. It has been previously estimated that the global Li-ion battery market will grow by over 30% annually from 2022 to 2030.<\/p>\n

If incorrectly handled, stored or transported, the potential hazards from Li-ion battery incidents can be fire, explosion, and \u2018thermal runaway\u2019, a rapid self-heating fire that can cause an explosion, as has been seen with a number of incidents on land and at sea.<\/p>\n

They can also produce irritating, corrosive or poisonous gases that can cause an explosion in a confined space.<\/p>\n

The highest risk of a fire occurring is when a battery is being charged,\u00a0 transported, has been damaged previously – as thermal runaway can occur hours, days or weeks later \u2013 or abused from over-charging or continual charging and discharging.<\/p>\n

Key advice when charging a Li-ion battery includes:<\/p>\n