The Hoverboard Crisis A Case Study in Standards Addressing Global Regulatory and Safety Concerns ACES Meeting, November 2016

Transcription

1 UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC [2016]. All rights reserved. This presentation may not be copied or used without permission. It is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to convey legal or other professional advice. The Hoverboard Crisis A Case Study in Standards Addressing Global Regulatory and Safety Concerns ACES Meeting, November 2016 Ken Boyce Principal Engineer Director & Corporate Fellow UL LLC

2 Innovation leads to new challenges As consumers, we constantly demand new, better, faster, smaller, lighter.. This leads to an constant development of new technologies and products Faster product development, over a global supply chain, with more startups, and quicker consumer demand all present challenges for key attributes including safety 2

3 Batteries are ubiquitous in our lives Batteries surround us today in our electronics, vehicles, appliances and other everyday products We are seeing more severe consequences from batteries based on Li-ion technology and expanded use And more batteries are coming, based on our mobile lifestyles 3

4 Battery Technology Evolution Source: NAATBatt UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC

5 Lithium-ion batteries overview Lithium-ion is the fastest growing battery chemistry today, with more than 4-6B+ cells produced annually Demand is largely driven by advantages relative to other batteries of similar size: Lighter; Higher energy density; Holding charge longer; and Freedom from a memory effect in charging. These advantages make lithium-ion the battery of choice for a wide range and increasing range of applications UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC

6 What makes batteries useful and appealing also makes them challenging Demands of smaller and longer batteries lead to increased energy density New chemistries and designs are being used to drive more active content to improve energy density and packaging especially Lithium-ion Batteries generally have a low failure rate - but we are seeing more severe consequences based on technology, manufacturing, use & state of health UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC

7 Samsung Recalls Galaxy Note7 Smartphones Due to Serious Fire and Burn Hazards Hazard The lithium-ion battery in the Galaxy Note7 smartphones can overheat and catch fire, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers. Units About one million US CPSC, September GIANT FIRE THAT DESTROYED COMPANY PREMISES CAUSED BY A SINGLE LITHIUM BATTERY A giant fire that destroyed a recycling plant and threatened neighbouring businesses yesterday was caused by a single lithium battery fire investigators have revealed this morning. Peterborough Telegraph, September Denon Recalls Rechargeable Battery Packs Due to Fire and Burn Hazards This recall involves Denon s HEOS 1 Go Pack lithium-ion rechargeable battery packs for wireless speakers US CPSC, September Tampa man to receive new computer after MacBook battery explodes As Sanderford was working on his laptop, his MacBook sat just a few inches away. It was charging and turned off at the time. Seconds later, it began hissing and sparks started to fly. In less than 30 seconds, Sanderford s house was filled with stinky, thick electrical smoke. WFLA, September E-cigarette explodes in man s pocket Add exploding batteries to the list of potential harm e- cigarettes can do. A man in Avondale, Arizona says he was out shopping when something blew up in his pocket like a mini pocket pipe bomb. Like a grenade going off in the store. I turn around, there s this poof and my husband s on fire, said Patricia Baertich, Tague s wife. NBC4, September 19, 2016 Battery fire risk goes well beyond Samsung Samsung s Note 7 isn t the only gadget to catch fire due to lithium-battery problems, which have afflicted everything from iphones to Tesla cars to Boeing jetliners.. CBS News, September 2, 2016 UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC

8 Battery Hazards Thermal runaway: fire & explosion Mismating batteries, chargers & loads Short circuits Leakage & Venting Environmental issues UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC

9 SOME IMPORTANT UL BATTERY STANDARDS UL 1642, Lithium Batteries (BBCV2) UL 2054, Household and Commercial Batteries (BBET2, BBFS/BBFS2) UL 2056, Power Banks (BBSZ) UL 2595, General Requirements for Battery- Powered Appliances (BBOI) 9

10 December 2015: News of Hoverboard Fires Gain Media Attention 10

11 Consequences cascade to a crisis Hoverboard incidents quickly led to major consequences through the value chain: Ban on transport by air, train, etc. Major issues for retailers Bans in locations like college campuses Questions about what to do with products Just in the US, at least 99 incidents of fire or explosions in 20 states, which together resulted in more than $2M in property damage 11

12 TEMPLOSION Big changes on a big scale in a short time! 12

13 Self-balancing scooter: a mini-energy system! The Battery Charger (Power Supply) in not shown but a also a critical component. 13

14 Key issues for hoverboard safety Battery system safety preventing thermal runaway Coordination of the charger, battery system and load (i.e. the motors driving the wheels) Assessing the protection of the battery packs and motors for safety Rigorous assessment of normal and abnormal operation and environmental integrity 14

15 Hoverboards have high energy density 15

16 UL 2272 provides a path forward

17 Rapid deployment of standards & conformity assessment 12/2015 Incidents rapidly proliferate 1/2016 UL 2272 drafted & published; hoverboard website launched for the public 2/ CPSC guidance referencing UL /2016 Public webinar and Standards Panel Meeting 5/2016 First hoverboard certifications issued by UL UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC

18 Solutions First certification to UL 2272 less than 6 months after the crisis; more than 20 companies now have certified products US CPSC recalled more than 500,000 hoverboards in July UL 2272 in final stages of consensus as a bi-national US and Canadian standard Other countries requiring compliance with UL

19 Summary Batteries becoming smaller, longer lasting, more common and global all mean more challenges and risk throughout the value chain In order to prevent cascading risk, it is highly advisable to understand the risks, proactively mitigate them through effective screening, and address sourcing to establish confidence The dynamics in today s world will continue to cause rapid new introductions on a global scale Standards development will need to move at a faster rate, and compliance invoked quicker, to proactively support critical attributes like safety 19

20 Thank you. Ken Boyce