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lithium-ion battery fire statistics worldwide
While comprehensive, universally standardized
worldwide statistics on lithium-ion battery fires are difficult to consolidate due to varied reporting methods, available data from different regions and sectors indicates a significant and increasing trend in fire incidents, largely driven by the growth of consumer electronics and electric mobility.
Incidents are rising globally, with urban areas particularly affected. The unique nature of these fires, which involves a self-sustaining chain reaction called , makes them difficult to extinguish and a growing public safety concern. >b class="rBl3me" jsaction="click:&e5BtAc_l|S9kKve;mouseenter:&e5BtAc_l|sbHm2b;mouseleave:&e5BtAc_l|Tx5Rb" data-wiz-attrbind="disabled=e5BtAc_l_C5gNJc;class=e5BtAc_l_UpSNec;" data-ved="2ahUKEwj4lsOfypKRAxX3s1YBHQ21KbwQye0OegQIAxAB" style="">
Regional and Sector-Specific Statistics
Data often focuses on specific regions or product categories, highlighting key hotspots:
- United States: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported over 25,000 fire or overheating incidents involving lithium-ion batteries between 2017 and 2022, averaging around 5,000 incidents annually.
- New York City, USA: The city experienced 277 lithium-ion battery-related fires in 2024, a slight increase from 268 in 2023. From 2021 through early 2023, these fires caused 12 deaths and more than 260 injuries.
- London, UK: The London Fire Brigade recorded 160 fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters in 2024, averaging one incident every two days. This trend led e-bikes to be characterized as London's fastest-growing fire risk.
- Aviation: In 2024, there was an average of two thermal runaway incidents reported on flights per week.
- Waste Management: In Japan, interviews at waste treatment facilities indicated that 80-90% of ignition incidents were caused by lithium-ion batteries mixed in non-combustible waste, even though the batteries accounted for a very small percentage of the total waste by weight.
Key Observations
Growing Trend: The number of incidents is increasing as the use of lithium-ion batteries in everyday devices (e-bikes, e-scooters, smartphones, etc.) becomes more widespread.Micromobility Risk: E-bikes and e-scooters are a significant source of fires, particularly in urban residential areas where they are often charged inside homes and apartments.Lower Risk in EVs (per mile traveled): While EV fires can be severe and require substantial water to extinguish, the data suggests that, per vehicle mile traveled, they are significantly less likely to catch fire than internal combustion engine vehicles.Causes: Fires are often linked to damaged batteries, improper charging practices (e.g., using non-certified chargers), manufacturing defects, and improper disposal.
Fire and safety organizations like the NFPA and UL Solutions are actively researching and developing new safety standards to mitigate these rising risks.