Latest news with #thermalRunaway
Entrepreneur
02-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Honeywell Acquires Nexceris' Li-ion Tamer Business, Strengthening Battery Fire Detection Portfolio
The acquisition follows a five-year strategic partnership between Honeywell and Nexceris aimed at advancing battery safety technologies. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Global technology leader Honeywell has announced the acquisition of the Li-ion Tamer business from Nexceris, a move set to boost its position in the lithium-ion battery safety market. Li-ion Tamer, a pioneering off-gas detection solution, is designed to detect early signs of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, offering critical protection across high-risk sectors such as energy storage, cloud infrastructure, and electric vehicle (EV) systems. The acquisition follows a five-year strategic partnership between Honeywell and Nexceris aimed at advancing battery safety technologies. As lithium-ion battery usage accelerates — with demand projected to grow over 30% annually through 2030 to exceed USD 400 billion — the need for early fire detection and safety solutions has become more urgent than ever. "As lithium-ion battery use grows rapidly across data centers, EV infrastructure, and grid-scale energy storage, the risk of fire is increasing in parallel," said Billal Hammoud, President and CEO of Honeywell's Building Automation segment. "Li-ion Tamer's early warning technology has been revolutionary for our customers and partners. Building on our legacy partnership, the acquisition of this product suite will position Honeywell as a leader in early gas detection and battery fire prevention." Li-ion Tamer uses advanced sensing technology to detect off-gassing — an early indicator of battery failure — providing facilities up to 30 minutes' warning before a thermal runaway event. This lead time can be crucial in preventing full-scale battery fires that can otherwise destroy entire systems. Trusted globally by leading battery OEMs, the Li-ion Tamer product line includes more than 30 patents. Honeywell plans to integrate the technology into its Building Automation segment, complementing existing fire detection solutions such as VESDA and the Connected Life Safety Services platform, part of the Honeywell Forge IoT ecosystem. "This acquisition not only strengthens our fire detection capabilities but also aligns with our broader strategy of building a safer and more connected world," Hammoud added. "We expect this tuck-in acquisition to further bolster the growth of our fire detection business." The deal is expected to be immediately accretive to Honeywell's financials and follows a string of strategic acquisitions and divestitures, including the sale of its Personal Protective Equipment division and over USD 13.5 billion in recent portfolio-enhancing deals. With this move, Honeywell is reaffirming its commitment to advancing safety technologies and addressing critical challenges posed by energy storage and electrification across industries.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lithium-ion battery blamed for small explosion in Fond du Lac home
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – A lithium-ion battery is being blamed for a small explosion inside a Fond du Lac residence late Wednesday night, prompting a reminder about battery safety from local fire officials. According to Fond du Lac Fire & Rescue, crews were dispatched shortly after 11:30 p.m. for a report of an explosion in the living room of a home. Upon arrival, firefighters determined that a lithium-ion battery had been charging in the living room and experienced a thermal runaway, leading to a small explosion. Boat catches fire at Manitowoc Marina; no injuries reported The fire was extinguished by the residents before crews arrived. Firefighters confirmed that the incident did not extend beyond the immediate area, though it did cause damage to the floor and wall. No injuries were reported. Lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of everyday devices, including smartphones, laptops, e-bikes, and power tools. As demand increases, fire officials warn of the growing presence of cheaply made or uncertified batteries and chargers that often fail to meet critical safety standards. Ahead of extreme heat in Wisconsin, WisDOT warns of pavement buckling conditions Fond du Lac Fire & Rescue offered the following battery safety tips: Use only batteries and chargers that are UL listed (e.g., UL 1642, UL 2054, UL 62133, UL 2271) Purchase products from reputable manufacturers and retailers Avoid mixing components such as third-party chargers with unverified batteries Regularly inspect batteries for signs of damage, swelling, or overheating Never charge batteries unattended or overnight The department thanked the community for its cooperation and urged continued caution when using and charging lithium-ion batteries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lithium-ion battery causes explosion inside Fond du Lac home, no one hurt
FOND DU LAC – No one was hurt after an explosion was reported in a Fond du Lac living room Wednesday night. Fond du Lac Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the residence at around 11:36 p.m. June 18. When they arrived, they found a lithium-ion battery had been charging in the living room and overheated, causing a thermal runaway. The department said the fire was extinguished by the resident and crews determined there was no extension of the fire. The explosion damaged the floor and wall of the residence. Read more: Remember when Vulcan Manufacturing was a significant steel producer? Its projects still support Fond du Lac buildings. Fond du Lac Fire Rescue said in the release: 'Lithium-ion batteries have become a core component of modern life, powering everything from smartphones and laptops to e-bikes and power tools. However, as demand grows, so does the influx of cheaply made, uncertified batteries and chargers — many of which do not meet the rigorous safety standards established by Underwriters Laboratories.' As a result, the department shared the following 'key safety requirements' for lithium-ion batteries: Only use batteries and chargers that are UL listed (such as UL 1642, UL 2054, UL 62133, UL 2271); Purchase from reputable manufacturers and retailers; Avoid mixing components (like using a third-party charger with an unverified battery); Regularly inspect batteries for signs of damage, swelling or overheating; and Never charge batteries unattended or overnight. Contact Brandon Reid at breid@ This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac explosion inside home was caused by lithium-ion battery
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Experts grapple with unexpected hazard in aftermath of LA wildfires: 'Just like pushing over that first domino ... it can spread'
The wildfires that swept through Los Angeles County earlier this year were tragic, but in the wreckage lay a challenge for federal environmental officials that went beyond the initial conflagration: damaged lithium-ion batteries. Fires left more than 13,500 houses and garages in ruins across the region, and once the fires were extinguished, the urgent need to manage potentially explosive batteries left in the debris was just beginning, according to an extensive report by Tech Xplore. California leads the country in EV adoption, with about five times more electric cars than any other state, which means that, along with all the batteries from household electronics and smartphones, there were plenty of oversized vehicle packs to contend with. The National Fire Protection Association said that "Perhaps no other technology is associated with such a confounding variety of hazards in one package." When these types of batteries are damaged, they can go into thermal runaway — an unstoppable reaction where cells rapidly heat up and begin to spew toxic and flammable gases. They can burn with extraordinary heat and even "reignite like a trick birthday candle days or weeks later," as the NFPA put it. "Just like pushing over that first domino ... it can spread," said Chris Myers, the co-chair of the EPA's national lithium-ion battery emergency response task force, per the report. "We were pushed into a situation where we had to figure it out," Myers added. Environmental workers recovered more than 16 times more batteries in the L.A. fires than they did when wildfires ravaged Maui in 2023, as Tech Xplore detailed. When the Biden administration was tasked with cleaning up damaged batteries, they had to develop new technology, as there were no battery recycling facilities on the island. This led them to create a new two-step method for safer remediation, in which stored power is removed and the batteries are then crushed for safer transport. First, batteries were dipped in a brine solution made of table salt and baking soda for three days to draw out their power reserves. This was followed by crushing them between a steel plate and a drum roller. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Months later, the EPA switched to grinding machines made by an industrial fabricator in New Jersey, which were able to munch through debris eight times faster than their earlier method. After their months-long efforts, the now safely transportable debris was loaded onto trucks and sent off to the Grassy Mountain waste disposal facility in Utah, the report concluded. Lessons were learned and new systems developed to deal with this hazardous debris, which should prove useful as we move toward more sustainable methods of energy generation and storage. Companies continue to improve recycling and recovery technologies to keep ecosystems safe and reduce the need to mine new materials. Challenges remain, but these innovations pave the way toward a cleaner, safer future. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
South China Morning Post
07-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Asia-Pacific air passengers unaware of lithium battery risks, poll finds
Despite several high-profile incidents, travellers in the Asia-Pacific area routinely bring devices powered by lithium-ion batteries on flights and still have little understanding of the potential risks, a poll has found. Advertisement The survey indicated that a quarter of respondents reported storing these batteries in their checked luggage, and alarmingly, 28 per cent admitted to having no knowledge about the associated dangers. However, 76 per cent of passengers said that an airline's battery safety measures would likely influence their decisions when booking future flights, while 69 per cent were willing to pay more for a typical domestic flight if it included enhanced battery safety protocols aimed at reducing the risk of thermal runaway events. Conducted by the standards development organisation UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) between February 25 and March 20, the survey polled 3,478 travellers from 10 Asia-Pacific countries. It found that 88 per cent travelled with smartphones, 42 per cent with laptops, and 43 per cent with power banks. Despite the widespread presence of these devices, only 29 per cent of respondents correctly identified which personal electronic devices were powered by lithium-ion batteries, while 28 per cent confessed to knowing nothing about them. Advertisement The poll also revealed that 24 per cent of passengers reported storing spare rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage, while 22 per cent did the same with power banks. Both practices violate aviation regulations.
