It's Electrical Safety Month: Safety tips for Lithium ion Batteries

Submitted by sshockley on
A card with different types of batteries, a scooter with flames, a bicycle, a car with a battery and a red sign indicating no and an image of a worker with a hardhat on.

Annually, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) promotes electrical safety at home and in the workplace during the month of May. This year, the non-profit is focusing its campaign on “Electrification: E-Mobility,” a timely subject as the world embraces new technology. One of the most notable emerging technologies is electric vehicles, as well as electric bikes and scooters. 

The latter have made headlines recently after fires in New York and San Francisco linked to the Lithium-ion batteries that power these vehicles. With the rise in popularity and rising temperatures in northeast Ohio, Cleveland Public Power focuses its first installment of posts for electrical safety month on these batteries. 

To protect your bikes and scooters, EFSI provides information on its website to keep you and your electric vehicles safe. Tips they offer are:

  • Only use manufacturer-provided or authorized batteries and charging equipment. A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory should certify all equipment.
  • Remove the battery or charging device from power once charging is complete to avoid overheating
  • Keep batteries and charge them at room temperature. Issues can occur below 32° F or above 105° F
  • Keep batteries and devices from heat sources or anything that can catch fire
  • Do not store batteries in vehicles or direct sunlight
  • A qualified professional should complete all maintenance on batteries or e-mobility devices

Discontinue using devices or batteries that have an unusual odor, change in color, too much heat, change in shape, are leaking, smoking, or not keeping a charge.