Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Destroys 5 Cars at Sydney Airport

11/09/2023: Sydney

Reported by Shuttle Driver Sydney

A lithium-ion battery from a luxury electric car caught fire at Sydney Airport on Monday night, destroying five cars. The fire broke out in a parking lot on Airport Drive in Mascot around 8:30 p.m. Firefighters confirmed that sparks spread from a detached lithium-ion battery from an MG electric car to four nearby cars parked at the airport.

The fire was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW and the Aviation Rescue Firefighting Service. No one was injured in the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but authorities believe it may have been caused by a mechanical fault in the battery. Lithium-ion batteries are known to be flammable, and fires can be difficult to extinguish.

This is the second fire involving an electric vehicle at Sydney Airport in recent months. In June, a Tesla Model 3 caught fire while parked at the airport.

The risk of fire is one of the challenges facing the adoption of electric vehicles. Manufacturers are working to improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries, but there is no guarantee that fires will never happen.

Here are some tips for reducing the risk of a lithium-ion battery fire:

• Do not overcharge or overcharge the battery.
• Do not expose the battery to high temperatures or moisture.
• Do not damage the battery, such as by puncturing it.
• If you see a battery that is smoking or on fire, do not touch it. Call the fire department immediately.

The fire at Sydney Airport is a reminder of the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries. While these batteries are becoming increasingly common in electric vehicles, it is important to be aware of the risks and take steps to mitigate them.