根據美國消費品安全委員會（U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission）的數據，由於火災和安全問題，2017年有83000個東芝筆記本電腦電池被召回。
2017年1月，紐約市一輛垃圾車的壓實機內發生鋰離子電池爆炸，引發了周圍鄰裡的注意。幸運的是沒有人受傷。 根據美國消防局國家消防數據中心分支機構的一項研究，在2009年1月至2016年12月31日期間，美國共發生195起電子菸火災事件，其中133起造成傷害。 所有這些報導都認為，每起事故的根本原因都是鋰離子電池。鋰離子電池已經成為日常生活中不可或缺的一部分。他們存在在我們的電腦、手機、汽車甚至電子菸中，很少有電子產品不使用這些高密度鋰電池。它的流行原因很簡單，它們的體積更小，並且電池更好。據澳大利亞科學院稱，鋰電池的強度是傳統鎳鎘電池的兩倍。 鋰離子電池是如何工作的？根據能源部的說法：「電池是由一個陽極、一個陰極、一個集電器、一個電解液和正負極組成的。陽極和陰極儲存鋰。電解液將帶正電荷的鋰離子從陽極帶到陰極，鋰離子的運動在陽極中產生自由電子，在正電荷收集器處產生電荷。然後，電流從集電器通過一個用電的設備（手機、電腦等）流向負電流集電器。集電器會阻止電池內的電子流動。」
為什麼這麼容易起火？
鋰離子電池容易發生熱失控。當阻擋電池中電子流動的分離器不工作時，就會發生這種情況。
對航運業的影響
在2020年1月4日發生的一場令人震驚的火災中，「中遠太平洋」號在從中國南沙前往印度納瓦謝瓦比的途中遭遇貨櫃火災。大火雖然被撲滅，也沒有人員傷亡的報告，但由於開展對損壞程度的調查，船期推遲了幾天。在克羅埃西亞杜布羅夫尼克港的「MY Kanga」號貨輪在遭遇災難性火災時全軍覆沒。這場火災是由遊艇車庫內的娛樂船的幾塊鋰電池熱失控引起的。隨著火勢的加劇，船員和乘客被迫棄船。正如讀者所知，海上運輸存在五種不同的火災類型。A、 B、C、D和K。鋰離子電池主要屬於D類火災。最大的危險是這種火災不能通過水或二氧化碳來熄滅。這意味著它們需要一種特殊的滅火方法。
拯救技術
直到最近，解決鋰電池火災只有兩種方法。消防員可以讓電子設備燃燒直到所有的設備化為灰燼，或者用大量的水澆在燃燒的設備上。這兩種「解決方案」都有嚴重的缺點。火災對周圍區域造成的損害可能非常嚴重，使第一種選擇不可接受。此外，船上、飛機上或其他密閉區域的火災可能會造成災難性後果，因此滅火是必要的。用大量的水滅火可以將電池的溫度降低到燃點（180°C/350F）以下，但是，消防員離燃燒的電池很近，過量的水會對設備和零件造成意外的損壞。最近的創新科技提供了一個更有效的選擇。專家認為有必要降低電池在熱失控時的溫度，最好的辦法就是快速吸收燃燒產生的氣體（煙霧，有毒）。這項技術突破是通過使用專門設計用來吸收熱量和氣體的回收玻璃珠來實現的。測試表明，運用這種方法一臺正在燃燒的筆記本電腦可以在15秒內熄滅。使用這種方法可以有效保護消防員。這項新技術歸功於CellBlock幫助多個行業應對鋰電池火災的努力。CellBlock的科學家們意識到鋰電池火災將會越來越多。世界經濟的各個部分都將受到影響，包括製造業、航空/航運公司、醫療保健公司等。CellBlock的工程師們關注鋰電池火災行業的運輸風險，使航空公司（貨物和乘客）和現在的海運公司成為研究重點。
海事風險
我們的經濟是全球化的，貨物被運往世界各地，其中許多貨物都是鋰電池。當鋰電池在船上時，提供運輸的船舶就處於危險之中。在大面積火災發生之前，有能力迅速熄滅進入熱失控狀態的鋰電池是至關重要的。有兩家航空公司因鋰電池火災損失了多架747飛機，每架飛機上都有5萬多節鋰電池，起火原因最終追溯到裝載鋰電池的貨櫃。而船上裝載有數百萬個鋰電池。如果我們擁有快速撲滅鋰電池火災的能力，可以防止事故變成災難。From 2015 to present an estimated 250 incidents related to electric hoverboard fires have been recorded according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The same commission reports that 83,000 Toshiba laptop batteries were recalled in 2017 due to fire and safety concerns.In January 2017 a NYC garbage truck was the source of a neighborhood surprise when a Lithium ion battery exploded in the compactor of the truck. Luckily no one was injured.According to a study conducted by the National Fire Data Center branch of the U.S. Fire Administration, between January 2009 and 31 December 2016 a reported 195 incidents of E-Cigarette fires occurred in the U.S. 133 of these resulting in injuries.What all these reports share, is that the underlying cause of each incident are lithium-ion batteries. Lithium Ion batteries have become an integral part of everyday life. Used in our computers, cell phones, cars, even e-cigarettes, there are very few electronic items that do not use these high-density batteries. The popularity is simple, better battery for a smaller size. According to the Australian Academy of Science, LI batteries are twice as strong as the traditional NiCad battery.
How do Lithium Ion batteries work?
According to the department of energy: 「A battery is made up of an anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and two current collectors (positive and negative). The anode and cathode store the lithium. The electrolyte carries positively charged lithium ions from the anode to the cathode and vice versa through the separator. The movement of the lithium ions creates free electrons in the anode which creates a charge at the positive current collector. The electrical current then flows from the current collector through a device being powered (cell phone, computer, etc.) to the negative current collector. The separator blocks the flow of electrons inside the battery.」
Lithium Ion batteries are subject to Thermal Runaway. This occurs when the separator blocking the flow of electrons in the battery fails.
Effects on the Shipping Industry
In a stunning fire on the 4th of January 2020 the COSCO Pacific suffered a container fire while underway from Nansha, China for Nhava Shevaby, India.. The fire, although extinguished and no injuries were reported, the vessel was delayed several days as the extent of the damage was investigated.The MY Kanga, in the port Dubrovnik, Croatia was a total loss when the vessel experienced a catastrophic fire. This fire was caused by a thermal runaway of several LI-on batteries in recreational vessels housed in the yacht garage. As the fire intensity increased, the crew and passengers were forced to abandon the vessel.As the reader knows, at sea there are five different fire categories. A,B,C,D, and K. Lithium Ion batteries are primarily a Class D fire. The danger there being that they cannot be extinguished by means of water or smothering by CO2. Class D fires burn hot enough to generate their own Oxygen. This means that they require a special means of extinguishing them.
Technology to the rescue
Until recently there were only two ways to address a lithium battery fire. A firefighter could allow the electronic device to burn until all fuel is exhausted, or douse the burning device with large amounts of water. Both of these 「solutions」 have serious drawbacks. The damage of a fire to surrounding areas can be significant making the first option unacceptable. Additionally, fire on a ship, airplane or other confined area can become catastrophic. Extinguishing the fire is essential.
Dousing the fire with great quantities of water can reduce the temperature of the batter below the ignition point (180C/350F), however, the firefighter is in close proximity to the burning battery and the excess water can cause unanticipated damage to equipment and furnishings.Recent innovation provides a new, more effective option. The necessity to reduce the temperature of a battery in thermal runaway, absorb the vapor (smoke, which is toxic) quickly is now available. The technological breakthrough is accomplished by the use of recycled glass beads that are specially designed to absorb heat and vapor. Tests show that a burning laptop is extinguished in 15 seconds. The method of application protects the firefighter.This new technology is due to the efforts of CellBlock to help several industries cope with lithium battery fires. The CellBlock scientists realized that lithium battery fires were going to occur in growing numbers. Diverse sectors of the economy would be affected including manufacturing, airlines, healthcare and others. CellBlock engineers looking at the transportation risks in the industry of lithium battery fires brought focus to the airlines (cargo and passenger), and now maritime.
Our economy is global with goods are shipped worldwide, and within many of those shipments are lithium batteries. The organization providing the shipping is at risk during the time the lithium batteries are onboard. Having the ability to extinguish a battery entering thermal runaway quickly, before extensive damage occurs can be critical.
Two airlines have lost 747s to lithium battery fires. Each had over 50,000 batteries onboard and the source of ignition was traced to those containers. Ships carry millions of batteries. Having the ability to extinguish a lithium battery fire quickly could make the difference between an incident and a disaster.