Safety

Fire Events & Response Fire events underscore the importance of multi-front approaches in lowering the failure incidence rate of battery products. These include validating propagation-resilient designs, proactive measures in quality, working standards, handling, storage, emergency response, and safe disposal of EOL lithium-ion batteries to mitigate fire risks. PUBLIC EVENT EXAMPLES & RESPONSES Otay Mesa, California, USA: A fire erupted at the Gateway Energy Storage facility. The fire persisted over several days, with batteries reigniting multiple times. Firefighters implemented evacuation orders and worked to contain the blaze. Fuzhou, Fujian, China: A fire burned down in a BYD dealership, marking the tenth BYD incident since 2021. BYD conducted an inspection, stating no abnormalities were found in the vehicle batteries and denying that the fire originated from its vehicles. Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, South Korea: A series of explosions at a lithium battery factory owned by Aricell resulted in a massive fire, killing 23 workers and injuring eight. Approximately 145 personnel and 50 units of firefighting equipment were deployed, extinguishing the fire after about five hours. Subsequently, three company officials were investigated for violating industrial safety laws, and the CEO was arrested. San Pedro, California, USA: A big rig carrying lithium-ion batteries overturned near the Port of Los Angeles, causing a fire that burned for days. Firefighters allowed the fire to deplete its combustible material and burn out. The incident led to the closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge and several port terminals, disrupting operations. Florida, USA: 16 lithium-ion battery fires, including six EVs, caused by exposure to saltwater storm surge during Hurricane Helene. Residents were advised to unplug and relocate damaged devices to open spaces, and agencies coordinated safe disposal measures. EV manufacturers were urged to provide guidance for storm-prone areas. Fredericktown, Missouri, USA: A massive fire erupted at the Critical Mineral Recovery facility, a lithium-ion battery recycling plant, releasing thick, toxic smoke. Authorities ordered evacuations and shelter in place orders for residents. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources assessed potential environmental impacts.

Data from EPRI suggests failure rates of BESS have decreased as more battery systems have been deployed.

Extracted from the PDF; charts and images may read imperfectly.