Newry MD Says Battery Safety is “Paramount” After Research Reveals Rise in Lithium-Ion Fires
Resonate Testing appointed by prestigious German-based ALEE Alliance as sole provider of vehicle battery testing and certification for manufacturers in the UK and Ireland
Research from insurance firm, QBE, has reported a significant 46% rise* (from 630 in 2022 to 921 in 2023) in fires linked to lithium-ion batteries in the UK prompting Tom Mallon, Managing Director of Newry based commercial testing firm, Resonate Testing, to urgently push for more stringent testing measures and safety protocols.
Coming ahead of the Cenex Expo on 4-5th September at Millbrook, England, showcasing latest technologies and thought leadership on Net Zero transportation systems, Tom’s call to action is further reinforced by statistics also showing that the number of fires involving electric cars specifically, rose 33% from 89 in 2022 to 118 in 2023.
“The increase in fires linked to lithium-ion batteries is alarming,” says Tom. “So, the benefits of rigorous testing procedures and the appropriate safety protocols surrounding batteries simply cannot be understated. It could mean the difference between life and death in some cases.
“While original manufactures and responsible suppliers ensure regulatory compliance, it is clearly the case that in a number of cases best practice is being ignored, either through ignorance of the safety requirements or the simple passing of inferior, poorly designed and untested battery packs to the unsuspecting public.
“Both industry and consumers alike must increase awareness of the hazards associated with inferior batteries and the transport of them and urge authorities to take robust action to identify and stop those individuals from compromising safety.”
A leading commercial testing facility, Resonate Testing has bolstered its reputation in the sector recently with its appointment by the prestigious German-based ALEE Alliance as sole provider of vehicle battery testing and certification for manufacturers in the UK and Ireland coupled with joining the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
“Our team of industry experts has been providing high quality testing and certification services to companies in the automotive, space and aerospace sectors since 2015,” Tom explains. “These new partnerships with the ALEE Alliance and SMMT will now allow us to both expand our testing capabilities and will give us the opportunity to share our extensive knowledge, services and advice to members of the automotive industry as it continues to evolve.
“As the EV industry continues to grow, our partnership with the ALEE Alliance underscores not only our commitment to delivering robust testing services but it also enables us to play an even greater role in assisting manufacturers to ensure their batteries can meet the highest safety standards.
“With an ever-increasing number of electric vehicles including cars, scooters and bikes currently playing a key role in the journey to Net Zero, the safety and performance of these batteries is a critical element to the overall success of the journey towards carbon neutrality.”
Resonate Testing is exhibiting at the Cenex Expo, which is running at the UTAC Millbrook, outside Bedford from 4th – 5th September at stand C4-404.
For more information on Resonate Testing’s services, visit: resonate.dswebsites.com/.