This can have several causes. Today’s bicycles are powered by lithium ion accumulators. Wrong charging or a manipulation of the battery can lead to such a reaction. I’ve already seen people screwing a child carrier to the battery.
Today’s fire broke out in a specialist shop where the correct handling of a battery should be well known. What else can have happened?
There are manufacturers with a long tradition in building batteries; they install so called battery management systems. These systems switch off the batteries immediately if a fault occurs. And then there are other manufacturers building batteries that are cheap in the first place.
What do you think a good battery should cost?
Between 500 and 700 Euro. It’s not so much the individual battery which costs, but the electronics which is built in.
Lithium batteries have become indispensable in today’s world, they also provide the power for smart phones, laptops or cordless screwdrivers. What should consumers be aware of?
They should be aware of the correct handling. In former days, we did not use a lighter to check a fuel tank either. Consumers must know that a battery is a powerful energy storage.
What do I have to keep in mind with batteries?
Be sure to only use the supplied chargers, in dry condition and at ambient temperature on a non-flammable plate. It is an advantage to charge the battery in a room with a smoke detector.
Interview: Tobias Morchner
Read the entire interview here.
