UPP Batteries Warning

[steveoshima]

Ok thanks, guess the fireproof bag is just a bag now. Yikes!
Where does everyone else store their batteries?
Keeping it outside in a shed with the high 40c and sub-zero temperatures is not good for the batteries so what's the alternative?

 

[lenny]

Tempted to open up my UUP batteries, I bought some of the bottle batteries.

Ok thanks, guess the fireproof bag is just a bag now. Yikes!
Where does everyone else store their batteries?
Keeping it outside in a shed with the high 40c and sub-zero temperatures is not good for the batteries so what's the alternative?

"If anyone owns one, they should not use it and contact the seller for redress.”

Warning after banned battery causes Kensington blaze

The battery pack caught alight in a corridor of a hotel in Kensington on Friday 26th January with around 25 firefighters required to put the fire out.

hounslowherald.com

 

[steveoshima]

The UPP 004 triangle is the one that has been reviewed as unsafe.
What about the other UPP batteries, the more common bottle battery types?
It would be good for a product safety report for the other UPP products. They must have sold 100s of thousands throughout the world, I haven't seen 100 of thousands of news articles related to them failing.
Storage for ebike batteries is a good discussion point, whether it is a UPP product or not.

 

[lenny]

The UPP 004 triangle is the one that has been reviewed as unsafe.
What about the other UPP batteries, the more common bottle battery types?
It would be good for a product safety report for the other UPP products. They must have sold 100s of thousands throughout the world, I haven't seen 100 of thousands of news articles related to them failing.

Contact the Office for Product Safety and Standards
Birmingham Office
Office for Product Safety and Standards
4th Floor Cannon House
18 The Priory Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6BS
United Kingdom

Email

OPSS.enquiries@beis.gov.uk

Enquiries

0121 345 1201


Teddington Office
Office for Product Safety and Standards
Stanton Avenue
Teddington
Middlesex
TW11 0JZ
United Kingdom

Enquiries

0121 345 1201

Office for Product Safety and Standards

Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence. Office for Product Safety and Standards is part of the Department for Business and Trade .

www.gov.uk

 

[Az.]

Keeping it outside in a shed with the high 40c and sub-zero temperatures is not good for the batteries so what's the alternative?

I don't think there is an ideal place to store batteries. For me it is a matter of priorities and simple risk assessment. I can buy new battery, I can rebuild shed. When I keep battery outside, I know my family is safe.

You mentioned construction of fireproof box. Perhaps you should use your skills and focus on thermal isolation instead.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

After watching these

Never-tackle-an-e-bike-battery-fire-yourself-warns-fire-brigade-after-another-blaze

I have similar plan, excluding the scooter! Mine involves a small shovel and an oven glove The advantage of getting a machine to do the flinging is, it can be done remotely - you don't want cells exploding like grenades in your face while you attempt to shovel the flaming and disintegrating...

www.pedelecs.co.uk

I bought an ex army ammo box and stripped out the seal and keep the batteries in our attached garage (although, as others have said the smoke fumes will still come out)

For £10 if it does any good, it'll be worth it but
1) think the main risk is during charging
2) if you use the proper charger think it is minimal risk
3) It reassures my wife

People should still follow the guidance, don't leave charging for long periods of time, disconnect when charged, don't leave the house unattended while charging, don't block exits

 

[lenny]

Royal Courts of Justice blaze was caused by e-bike battery failure

More than a dozen firefighters with specialist gear from three fire engines rushed to battle the blaze (pictured) at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[lenny]

Tempted to open up my UUP batteries

London Fire Brigade is asking e-bike users to check their batteries following a fire caused by an exploding battery that has been officially classed by the UK’s regulatory body as a “dangerous” product.

Brigade urges Londoners to check their e-bike after banned battery causes blaze

Five online marketplaces issued with Withdrawal Notices for product

www.london-fire.gov.uk

Whitechapel e-bike battery fire leads to new warning over dangers – Eastlondonlines

www.eastlondonlines.co.uk

E-bikes London's fastest growing fire risk, says fire service

Three people died last year and dozens were hurt in fires caused by failing e-bike batteries.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Pingk]

Brigade urges Londoners to check their e-bike after banned battery causes blaze

Five online marketplaces issued with Withdrawal Notices for product

www.london-fire.gov.uk

"We’re asking people to check whether they have a UPP battery at home. If you do, stop using it right away, and contact the seller."

Doesn't get any clearer than this, that's potentially a company-killing mistake. Gonna be a braver person than me who considers buying a UPP battery after this imo.

 

[Woosh]

they are a Chinese company. When you buy a battery from Aliexpress or their website, you are the importer in the eyes of the law. As importer, you assume all product liabilities, you can't sue your supplier if their battery burns your flat, your neighbour's flat or hurts someone. Your neighbour or the person who gets hurt will sue you instead.
The answer is not to be an importer through ignorance of the law,.
Don't buy from abroad and don't advise members to buy abroad unless it's unavoidable.

 

[guerney]

Don't buy from abroad and don't advise members to buy abroad unless it's unavoidable.

Forumites can't be sued for advising buying from abroad.

 

[steveoshima]

Thanks @Peter.Bridge for the ammon box idea.
The Royal Court of Justice article didn't say what brand and if it was being correctly charged.
More than likely he cycled to work and didn't give his battery time to cool down and plugged it straight into charge. Having stressed his battery out doing this over 100s of times it was bound to cause an issue. The BMS should have not allowed this but most brands dont do cell balancing from what I can find out. So yea whichever brand it was combined with poor user care we see the result.
There has been talk of a competitor teaming up with customers to suppress UPP. A lot of money to be made if you can take out your main competitor. UPP made the most affordable ebike batteries, so for sure there must be some cost cutting.

 

[Woosh]

Forumites can't be sued for advising buying from abroad.

True.
Quite often, those advices don't come with a reminder about liabilities of being an importer.
Perhaps even those who give the advice don't think about this themselves.
No website is going to warn you of the possibility of being sued if an accident occurs involving their products.

 

[Woosh]

There has been talk of a competitor teaming up with customers to suppress UPP.

unlikely. There are litterally hundreds of vendors out there selling batteries.

 

[steveoshima]

As a matter of health and safety would it be wise for there to be a sticky thread, listing with a poll on recommended battery packs? Which users have had good and bad experiences?
Of course, sellers on here may advise on their batteries so hopefully they can stand by their choice and inform us of the quality of the components - the BMS, soldering, balanced cells, cell manufacturer... etc.

 

[saneagle]

As a matter of health and safety would it be wise for there to be a sticky thread, listing with a poll on recommended battery packs? Which users have had good and bad experiences?
Of course, sellers on here may advise on their batteries so hopefully they can stand by their choice and inform us of the quality of the components - the BMS, soldering, balanced cells, cell manufacturer... etc.

In the last 14 years, nobody on this forum has reported that their battery caught fire, so whatever advice has been given seems to be working.

Ebike batteries have caught fire, as reported by the press and fire brigade. We have no idea what caused any of the fires. People are making assumptions and drawing conclusions based on false premises and ignorance. The last fire reported involved two high end bikes, at least one of which had the Shimano system. Should we advise people not to buy bikes with Shimano system because of that?

It's the same thing with the hysteria in the press, where they run articles like "40% of ebike fires are from bikes fitted with conversion kits" instead of "Ban OEM bikes because they're 50% more likely to catch fire than a conversion kit", both of which are ridiculous because nothing is quantified. Imagine if they ran an article that said "40% of riders run over and killed by trucks were on legal electric pedal bikes". How big is the problem? How many people died? It could be 2 out of 6 in 50 years.

When any lithium battery catches fire, it's bad. Instead of focusing on what vehicle or device the burning battery was in, people should focus on the CAUSE of the fire, which in some or many cases will be nothing to do with the battery. When you have a list of causes, you have problems that can be solved. Blaming, ebikes, Chinese batteries, Chinese chargers or Shimano ebike systems doesn't solve anything.

 

[Pingk]

As a matter of health and safety would it be wise for there to be a sticky thread, listing with a poll on recommended battery packs? Which users have had good and bad experiences?
Of course, sellers on here may advise on their batteries so hopefully they can stand by their choice and inform us of the quality of the components - the BMS, soldering, balanced cells, cell manufacturer... etc.

Alternatively have an admin-locked sticky for government recalls/advisories like OP's so it's easier to know which to avoid?

 

[Az.]

inform us of the quality of the components - the BMS, soldering, balanced cells, cell manufacturer... etc.

To find out more about quality of components and assembly you need somebody with knowledge and experience to open it and examine.

 

[lenny]

"Watch terrifying moment 'dangerous' e-bike battery explodes causing flat fire and sparking UK ban"

Watch terrifying moment 'dangerous' e-bike battery explodes causing flat fire and sparking UK ban

E-bikes with 'dangerous ' batteries have been banned from sale in the UK following a major flat blaze in the West Midlands.

www.expressandstar.com

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1681242093073694726

 

[Deleted member 16246]

There have probably been more recalls from prestige brands than Chinese ones. Brompton, Cube and Specialized all did battery recalls.

Samsung tablets not too long ago - mass recall because of some fires - probably less than 0.1%, but too high for them to tolerate.