The real cost of EVs

[Andy Bennett]

Austin: and yet we all fly around the world calm and content to the fact that the plane we are in is probably carrying many hundreds of lithium ion batteries powering our laptops. Some new, some old, many on standby, some may not be working properly who knows, with a laptop potentially heating up in a closed bag. Plane seats now have the capability to charge electronic devices. How many are plugged in and then slipped into a seat back where the fan is blocked?

We leave them plugged in and charging in our children's bedrooms and in our houses when we are not there. if they are left on a bed where the fan is not operating in free air then the risk is increased. How many teenagers leave an electronic device recharging on a bed? A phone, a tablet, a laptop? We have 6.6kW of lithium batteries in our loft as storage for our solar panels constantly charging and discharging.

A well know insurance company has a list of recommendations for the safe use of a laptop/portable electronic device in your home. They include:

Use an air conditioner in your room you store your computer
Have your computer cleaned annually
Always use your laptop on a hard, flat surface like a table or the floor
Never block the air vents on the back or sides of the portable computer
Invest in a laptop chill pad/cooler
Every now and then, check out the laptop’s air vents to remove dust or debris blocking the ventilation
Invest in a can of compressed air

And yet, whilst it is illegal to store more than 30 litres of petrol at home, there are no limits on lithium ion batteries nor is there an insurance premium for things like our solar battery pack.

Just playing devil's advocate that the relative safety issue over car batteries is perhaps overstated. You could worry yourself daft...