In a press release last week, the Office of the Mayor announced plans to expand the city’s current number of total charging ports by 30%, aiming to install 300 new charging stations citywide.
Lithium-ion batteries, when overheated or defective, are prone to exploding, causing a potential range of fires. A class-action lawsuit was filed this week against Chevron, a global provider of power tools, due to 100 reports of thermal incidents involving the company’s lithium-ion batteries.
In Monterey Bay County, a state of emergency was declared Tuesday night due to the Vistra Energy battery power storage facility fire in Moss Landing.
The plant, which is the largest lithium-ion battery storage facility in the world, could not be directly extinguished by crews, as lithium-ion battery fires burn at abnormally high temperatures and are difficult to put out.
While most lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicle charging purposes aren’t nearly as large or powerful as those in the Vistra Energy facility, their properties still pose a challenge for firefighters and other first responders.
Cofflin acknowledged this, highlighting the difficulty of “extinguishment of an inaccessible fire due to extreme temperatures and concealed batteries.”
San Francisco Fire Department Captain Jonathan Baxter also stressed the potential hazards surrounding lithium-ion batteries.
“While these batteries offer efficient power, mishandling, improper use, charging, or storage can lead to overheating, fires, and even explosions,” he wrote in an email.
Baxter said that overcharging, storing the batteries in direct sunlight and tears in the charging cables can all increase the risk of fire hazards.
“As lithium-ion batteries become more prevalent in our daily lives, it’s crucial to prioritize safety,” he said.
