Can Lithium-ion Batteries Explode?
Yes, and we’ve written an entire blog post about why they explode and what to do if it happens to you or a loved one. Lithium-ion batteries can explode due to overheating, battery fluid leakage and/or manufacturing defects.
In recent years, there have been several high-profile incidents involving lithium-ion battery fires. In 2016, Samsung recalled millions of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to reports of battery fires. Similarly, in 2018, a Tesla Model S caught fire in California after a crash, and in 2019, a Tesla Model 3 caught fire in a parking lot in Shanghai.
Over the last several years, cities have faced significant increases in lithium-ion home and apartment fires and related injuries. In 2023, New York City saw 18 deaths attributed to lithium-ion battery fires, and as a result of increased public education and rules surrounding e-devices like e-scooters and e-bikes, that number decreased to 6 in 2024.