Planck Vision Systems: Kaohsiung Lithium Battery Explosion Causes Fire, Estimated Loss of NT$1 Million

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NEWS

On February 5, 2025, at approximately 10 p.m., a severe lithium battery explosion occurred on Minquan 2nd Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung. At the time of the incident, a 10-year-old boy and his younger sister were operating an electric bike. According to witnesses, the children were playing and accidentally activated the lithium battery of the electric bike. Within seconds, the battery exploded, immediately igniting a fire. The explosion released a thick plume of smoke, and the flames quickly spread to the bike and surrounding items, expanding across the room in mere moments.

In the initial stages of the fire, because it was late at night and the incident occurred in a residential area, the fire spread especially quickly, causing significant damage. According to the fire department, the explosion released an immense amount of energy, and the flames reached very high temperatures, making the situation more dangerous. Firefighters arrived promptly on the scene and were able to control the fire in the shortest possible time, preventing it from spreading further.

However, despite the quick control of the fire, the incident still resulted in significant property damage. During the fire, the electric bike, indoor furniture, and various equipment were destroyed, with an estimated loss of NT$1 million. This loss includes not only the direct damage to the items but also the costs for cleaning and repairs after the fire, adding additional financial burden.

According to the fire department’s investigation, the cause of the fire was undoubtedly the overheating or short-circuiting of the lithium battery, which led to the explosion. Lithium batteries, when in use, can easily experience thermal runaway if overcharged, over-discharged, or subjected to external shocks, releasing large amounts of energy. The energy release is very rapid, and the resulting high temperatures are sufficient to ignite surrounding flammable materials, causing a major fire. In fact, statistics show that in the past year, more than 26 fire incidents caused by lithium batteries in micro electric scooters have occurred in Kaohsiung. These fires typically happen at night and are mostly indoors, resulting in even greater losses and risks.

In this case, the fire occurred in the late night, when most residents were asleep. Because the residents failed to notice the fire in time, the situation became even more dangerous. According to the fire department’s report, if such fire incidents are not controlled in the early stages, they are highly likely to result in major losses in both lives and property.

After the incident, the fire department quickly dispatched personnel to the scene for firefighting operations. Although the fire was successfully controlled due to the fire department’s prompt response, many items were still destroyed. The rapid spread of the fire and explosion stemmed from the high thermal energy release in the lithium battery. Due to the extreme explosiveness of the lithium battery, the resulting flames reached extremely high temperatures, making firefighting efforts more complex. Firefighters used specialized firefighting equipment and cooling techniques to successfully extinguish the fire, but property damage was unavoidable.

With the growing popularity of electric vehicles and other lithium battery-powered devices, the demand for fire detection technologies is also increasing. If such equipment can detect early signs of fire and immediately issue warnings, it can greatly reduce the damage caused by fires. Planck Vision Systems’s thermal imaging technology is a critical tool in addressing this issue. Its advanced thermal imaging capabilities can quickly detect minute temperature changes during equipment operation, providing real-time alerts to prevent the fire from spreading. The application of this technology is not only vital for enhancing the safety of electric vehicles and similar devices but also plays a crucial role in overall fire safety.

In fact, detecting early signs of fire can significantly reduce the destructive power of the fire. This is why Planck Vision Systems’s thermal imaging technology plays an increasingly important role in many high-risk industries, especially in electric vehicles and lithium battery management. It can not only provide early warnings before fires break out but also monitor potential hazards, offering comprehensive protection for the system.

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