Steve Gorham
A version of this article was recently published in wall street journal.
Alternative energy is exploding—quite literally. Lithium battery fires occur frequently on highways, factories, home garages and storage rooms. The increase in battery fires is further exacerbated by government mandates for electric vehicles and grid-scale batteries to generate electricity.
Lithium batteries have high energy density and are valuable for cell phones and portable appliances. But when they catch fire, these batteries can burn due to high heat and may even explode. This is why airlines ban lithium batteries in checked luggage.
On June 24, a fire broke out at a battery factory in South Korea, causing an explosion that killed 22 workers. A fire broke out at the Aricell factory in Hwaseong, which produces small lithium batteries used in sensors and communication equipment. Experts estimate that most workers were killed by toxic gases released by burning batteries.
There have been two major fires at battery recycling centers in Scotland this year. On April 8, a fire broke out at the Fenix battery recycling depot in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire. More than 40 firefighters and personnel from six different agencies responded to the blaze, which raged for several days. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service urged nearby residents to stay indoors and keep their windows closed for two days after the fire.
On June 23, a fire broke out at the battery recycling and processing facility of WEEE Solutions in Glasgow. Witnesses reported explosions, gunshots and other noises, with “steel flying everywhere” and huge plumes of black smoke. Ten fire engines were needed and the fire raged for four days.
E-bike battery fires are now a leading cause of fires in New York City, with 216 fires occurring last year. E-bike fires have become a serious problem in Australia, Canada and other countries. A shoddy bicycle battery spontaneously ignited in a first-floor storage room, destroying the building above. Even high-quality batteries are prone to spontaneous combustion after damage or when connected to a faulty charging system.
Lithium batteries have been used in mobile phones and small appliances for the past 30 years. However, the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) after 2000 resulted in a significant increase in battery size. Lithium batteries used in cars and trucks are 10,000 times larger than cell phone batteries.
On August 19, a Tesla semi-truck crashed into a tree along Interstate 80 in California. The accident ignited the truck's large lithium battery. Firefighters tried to put out the blaze with thousands of gallons of water but were forced to let it burn out on its own. The interstate was closed for 15 hours. California's Advanced Clean Fleet regulations passed last year require all new heavy-duty trucks to be zero-emission vehicles, which effectively means electric trucks equipped with batteries are prone to catching fire.
Automakers have been battling lithium battery fires for more than a decade. Alfa Romeo, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Tesla and other manufacturers have recalled millions of electric vehicles due to battery fire issues. Batteries can spontaneously ignite while the vehicle is being driven, connected to a charger, or even idle in a parking lot. Electric vehicles that are prone to spontaneous combustion are prohibited from parking in West Coast parking lots.
In August, a Chinese-made Mercedes-Benz EQE caught fire in a parking lot in Incheon, South Korea. The electric vehicle had been parked in a garage for several days without charging. The resulting fire destroyed or damaged 140 vehicles.
On August 24, a fire broke out in the outdoor parking lot of Rivian, an electric truck manufacturer in Normal, Illinois. More than 50 trucks were destroyed. Three other battery fires were reported at the plant last year, with three more fires in 2021-2022.
How do governments respond to lithium battery fire incidents? They are doubling down on efforts to promote the use of larger grid-scale lithium batteries as part of an effort to transition away from coal, oil and natural gas and towards wind and solar energy.
Grid-scale batteries are seen as a solution to the intermittency of wind and solar energy, designed to store excess power when wind and solar power production is high and then release it when wind and solar power production is low. But grid battery fires are increasing, and grid batteries are hundreds of times larger than electric vehicle batteries.
On July 26, a truck caught fire after a crash on Interstate 15 near Baker, California. The battery is 20 feet long and weighs 75,000 pounds. Interstate 15 was closed for 44 hours as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Hundreds of motorists were stranded in the desert in 100-degree temperatures. Ambulances, medical teams, fuel and water were sent to the scene to help stranded motorists.
On May 15, a Gateway energy storage facility using lithium-ion batteries caught fire near San Diego, California. Firefighters managed to control the blaze within 24 hours, but it then reignited twice, burning for a total of 11 days. Evacuation orders are issued and lifted periodically for residents based on fire conditions. The Gateway facility, completed in 2020, is the largest of its kind.
Vice President Kamala Harris recently announced $1 billion in funding for electric school buses. If a diesel bus engine catches fire, the driver can usually put it out with a fire extinguisher. But that's not possible with electric buses because they explode if they catch fire. Hopefully, an electric bus full of children won’t catch fire or explode.
The world faces an epidemic of lithium battery fires. If government leaders continue to push for a transition to lithium batteries and green energy, battery fires could soon be upon you.
Steve Goreham is a speaker and best-selling author on energy, environment, and public policy Green Collapse: The coming failure of renewable energy.
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