Battery safety needs scrutiny

  First post by: www.itsbattery.com

The safety of rechargeableToshiba PA3506U-1BRS Battery that make today's mobile lifestyle possible - they are used to power notebook PCs, navigation equipment and cell phones, for example - needs to come under scrutiny in the wake of recent accidents.


Last week, LG Electronics said it is offering free safety checks and battery replacements for Z series notebook PCs that were sold between January and December 2007.

The move comes after two reported cases of notebook PC battery explosions. The rechargeable lithium batteries overheated. The batteries were made by LG Chemical. The move to offer free battery replacements is an attempt to allay customer anxieties over the safety of the notebook PCs and falls short of recalling the products as any safety investigation by a third party could take as long as six months.


Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics, which was involved in a similar incident, has no plans to offer Toshiba PA3591U-1BRS Battery comparable services.


While the companies claim that these were isolated incidents, the number of accidents involving rechargeable lithium batteries reported to the Korea Consumer Agency, a consumer advocacy group, has been on the increase.

The total number of complaints, while small at 38, has been on a steady rise - nine cases were reported in 2005, 12 in 2006 and 15 last year.

In response to growing concerns over the safety of rechargeable lithium batteries, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards has been reviewing safety standards for lithium ion batteries since December last year. A new standard should be enforced as soon as possible.


The taskforce Toshiba Portege 4000 Battery should thoroughly investigate accidents involving such batteries to discover the causes and draw up necessary safety measures to prevent future accidents.


Manufacturers need to do a better job of alerting consumers to safety precautions. Rechargeable lithium batteries, while convenient, pose safety threats when not used properly. Using them in high-temperature environments is potentially dangerous, for example.

More than 600 million lithium ion batteries a year are manufactured in the Republic of Korea, making up for 30 percent of the global market for the batteries.


Manufacturers should not have to be reminded of the recall of 10 million Sony batteries used in notebook PCs in 2006 before the company improved its safety standards, which cost the company more than $400 million Toshiba Satellite A10 Series Battery in replacements.