Protect yourself and your home

Correctly store and charge lithium ion batteries

Electric mowers, vacuum cleaners, e-bikes and cordless power tools are everywhere – and what they all have in common is lithium ion batteries. But while these small cells can be a handy source of portable power they can also harbour potential hazards. Batteries that are faulty or have not been fully discharged are especially likely to cause fires and, in the worst case scenario, explosions.

In certain circumstances (for instance if there is a short circuit within the cells), there is a risk that lithium ion batteries could themselves ignite. The resulting flames can reach temperatures of over 1200 °C. These flames can very rapidly cause surrounding objects to catch alight. In most cases it is then impossible to stop the fire from spreading.