Travellers warned to be wary of the dangers of lithium ion battery-powered gadgets



THE VOORHES
AUTHOR: CHELSEA LEUCHELSEA LEU
SCIENCE
03.15.17
04:35 PM
HOW LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES TURN INTO SKIN-SEARING FIREBOMBS
WHO RUNS THE world? Lithium-ion batteries! (Sorry, Beyoncé.) Ever since Sony commercialized the chemistry in 1991, Li-ion cells have powered everything from the Mars Curiosity rover to the device you’re using to read these words. The tech has endured for good reason: It charges quickly, fits a ton of energy into a slim package (lithium is the lightest metal and is highly reactive), and is generally pretty safe. But when things go wrong, they go very wrong. Scores of Galaxy Note 7s and hoverboards have succumbed to the fiery embrace of a malfunctioning Li-ion battery. Here is what’s inside the little fuel packs that power your life—and how they can turn into battery flambé … for more, go to https://www.wired.com/2017/03/lithium-ion-batteries-turn-skin-searing-firebombs/


Travellers warned to be wary of the dangers of lithium ion battery-powered gadgets

It’s that time of the the year. Christmas and the New Year are just days away.

This is the time when holidaymakers are in the mood to travel. And air traffic, or whatever traffic, will be “hell”.

“It’s also a time when we must take whatever safety precautions necessary to ensure that we return home safe from our holidays,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said.

He said holidaymakers and travellers should take The Star Online news report titled “Be careful of lithium ion batteries Europe warns Christmas air travellers” seriously.

“We must never take safety for granted. In fact, the warning should apply to all globally, not only air travellers and Europe,” he added.


GETTY IMAGES
DON'T BLAME THE BATTERIES FOR EVERY LITHIUM-ION EXPLOSION
LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES HAVE been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The latest marquee moment involved a pair of exploding headphones on a plane. That incendiary incident came hot on the heels of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 (double) recall and major issues with “hoverboard” batteries. You can't chalk it all up to incompetence, either. Even rocket scientists have trouble keeping lithium-ion batteries in check … for more, go to https://www.wired.com/2017/03/dont-blame-batteries-every-lithium-ion-explosion/

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the coming 14th General Election (GE14), said much had been written and reported on the risks and dangers of lithium ion batteries.

“Malaysians are advised to use lithium ion battery-powered gadgets with caution. Adopt safety precautions when using anything that is powered by such batteries.

“Better safe than to be sorry … if you survive a lithium ion battery-related explosion,” he added.

Here’s The Star Online posting that serves as a reminder to all travellers this festive season:

"Be careful of lithium ion batteries Europe warns Christmas air travellers

TECH NEWS
Thursday, 21 Dec 2017
6:00 AM MYT
 

Lithium ion batteries, found in devices such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and electronic cigarettes, are seen as a fire risk, and there are concerns that if a fire were to start in the hold of a plane, it could not easily be extinguished. — Reuters
BERLIN: European aviation safety authorities have urged airlines to remind passengers about how best to transport electronic devices containing lithium ion batteries over the busy Christmas travel period. 

Lithium ion batteries, found in devices such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and electronic cigarettes, are seen as a fire risk, and there are concerns that if a fire were to start in the hold of a plane, it could not easily be extinguished.

"It is important that airlines inform their passengers that large personal electronic devices should be carried in the passenger cabin whenever possible," the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Many airlines in Europe already have their own procedures in place, such as telling passengers that laptops should not be carried in hold baggage.

EASA also said that if devices cannot be carried in the cabin, such as when passengers have to put carry-on bags in the hold due to a lack of space in the cabin, airlines should remember to ask passengers to remove any spare batteries or e-cigarettes.

Lithium ion batteries are also used to power so-called smart bags, suitcases which offer GPS tracking and can charge devices, weigh themselves or be locked remotely using mobile phones. — Reuters
"


N.37 LET BUKIT LANJAN SOAR WITH SYED ABDUL RAZAK ALSAGOFF

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