China’s makeshift hoverboard industry is imploding after Amazon’s safety crackdown - Quartz

So decisions made for the best interests of safety have caused an entire manufacturing market to implode.

Personally, I have no sympathy since they were making and selling sub-standard products and flooding a market of unknowing consumers who assumed that there were protections in place to prevent this from happening.  There weren't, until bad things started to happen.





China’s makeshift hoverboard industry is imploding after Amazon’s safety crackdown - Quartz

Statement from the U.S. CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye on the safety of hoverboards | CPSC.gov

Statement from the U.S. CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye on the safety of hoverboards | CPSC.gov

Amazon urges customers to throw away unsafe hoverboards | Daily Mail Online

Amazon urges customers to throw away unsafe hoverboards | Daily Mail Online

Swagway hoverboard maker sued after scooter exploded in a FIREBALL | Daily Mail Online

Swagway hoverboard maker sued after scooter exploded in a FIREBALL | Daily Mail Online

Amazon Dropping Most Hoverboards From its Store Due to Safety Concerns

Interesting development

Amazon just sent out a notice to all “hoverboard” sellers to “provide documentation demonstrating that all hoverboards you list are compliant with applicable safety standards, including UN 38.3 (battery), UL 1642 (battery), and UL 60950-1 (charger).”

Read more: http://wccftech.com/amazon-dropping-hoverboards/#ixzz3uOvUzaaj





Amazon Dropping Most Hoverboards From its Store Due to Safety Concerns

Trading Standards officers seize 15,000 unsafe hoverboards - BBC News

The latest and greatest media hyped threat:  Hoverboards



Trading Standards officers seize 15,000 unsafe hoverboards - BBC News



In generally, these devices are causing issues when being charged.  As cargo, in their retail packaging and never having been used, there are no documented incidents.



By hyping the risk up in the media and making it harder to move or ship, you create an environment where unscrupulous shippers tender these as general cargo and do not declared the hazard, which is more dangerous than the risk of the battery.



Clandestine or illegal shipments being shipped as mail or small package via courier are also great concerns to safety and pose risks.  The industry has been finding undeclared or mis-declared shipments on a more regular basis.



When properly declared and tendered, the risk of this has been mitigated to its lowest level and are acceptable to transport.  

Longer-lasting, fast-charging battery could displace lithium-ion | PCWorld

Longer-lasting, fast-charging battery could displace lithium-ion | PCWorld:

"Prieto believes batteries based on its chemistry have a good chance of succeeding as they can be dropped into existing manufacturing and packaging processes. The goal is now to convince battery makers that its technology is better than what is currently available.

Intel’s backing is a big step ahead to commercialize the battery technology. The chip maker has manufacturing expertise and could provide access to computing and mobile devices to test the battery."

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Panel rejects ban on air shipments of fire-prone batteries

Panel rejects ban on air shipments of fire-prone batteries:



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Is this the future of urban mobility? - CNN.com

Is this the future of urban mobility? - CNN.com:



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Step Taken to Address Dangers of Airborne Shipments of Lithium Batteries - WSJ

"In recent months, many large international airlines have
voluntarily restricted or completely stopped accepting bulk shipments of
rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. And last month, Boeing Co. warned all
airline customers that transporting bulk shipments of lithium batteries in the
bellies of its passenger jets poses unacceptable fire hazards, because the
planes simply weren’t designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and
explosive gases that can result from lithium battery blazes."  A quote from:  

Step Taken to Address Dangers of Airborne Shipments of Lithium Batteries - WSJ



A very informative Wall Street Journal article on the current state of transporting Lithium Batteries.

Amazon ‘put aircraft at risk by flouting rules on shipping batteries' | Daily Mail Online

Amazon ‘put aircraft at risk by flouting rules on shipping batteries'  | Daily Mail Online:



"Amazon ‘put aircraft at risk by flouting rules on transporting batteries, aerosols and car wash because they cause fires'"





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Lithium Ion Batteries May Soon Be Replaced With Magnesium Ion Tech | NDTV Gadgets

Lithium Ion Batteries May Soon Be Replaced With Magnesium Ion Tech | NDTV Gadgets



Interesting developments in battery technology as researchers seek to find a safer and more effective replacement for the lithium battery.



Magnesium Ion Technology is one of those ideas being researched.

Air transport of lithium batteries: Disaster ‘only a matter of time,’ DeFazio says | 2015-04-15 | Safety+Health Magazine

This could get interesting in the USA.

“It’s only a matter of time until we lose another plane,” Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) said April 14 during a hearing before the House Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee. “We’ve lost a couple of cargo planes. It could be a passenger plane; it could be a cargo plane.”

Once again, we need to realize that in any incident where it is alleged that Lithium Batteries were a factor, it was not confirmed that legally tendered and properly packed / documented batteries were the cause.

Clandestine shipments of unprepared or undeclared batteries should be the primary focus.  Shipments of counterfeit or untested batteries are also a major concern.  However, with the exception of Asia, these types of shipments remain out of the spotlight and are not highlighted as a safety risk.

Lets not even add the potentiality of undeclared batteries turning up in the mail system.

Additionally, spare batteries in baggage are also a major concern and a more probable risk to safety.  Most of the travelling public is unaware of the dangers of these batteries;  signage / popups on check in screens have little effectiveness on educating the public.  My experience is that people do not take the time to read either.

The existing rules are complicated to understand.  When you mention lithium batteries at an airline, you get the deer in the headlight look or an "I dunno, ask the DG guy".  They are likened to collegiate trigonometry on the global "complicated" scale.  Even for the "experts" they can prove to be something that takes focused thought on how to translate and communicate in to lay-terms.

This level of mis-understanding, misinterpretation or just plain disregard causes shipments to either be unintentionally non-compliant or intentionally non-compliance.  Making them more restrictive or more complicated will exacerbate the existing problem and the potential of shippers taking the intentional disregard method becomes greater.

A total overhaul of the patchwork of battery regs needs to be done.  Stream line the regulations to make them simple and easy to understand.  remove any areas where shippers may find "work arounds" as is found in the section II of some packing instructions.  Personally, I think they need to be (all battery and energy producing devices)  placed in their own class, Regs in the works are making things increasingly complicated by introducing lithium battery class 9 labels and revised labeling requirements.

In the end, any decisions need to be risk based.  Conduct the necessary risk analysis, determine root causes and commit to corrective actions of at the sources of the risk.  Knee jerk reactions and embargoes just serve to "feed the fire".


Air transport of lithium batteries: Disaster ‘only a matter of time,’ DeFazio says | 2015-04-15 | Safety+Health Magazine



FYI - these views are my own and not those of my company or industry affiliations.

Cathay slaps blanket ban on lithium ion battery shipments | JOC.com

Cathay slaps blanket ban on lithium ion battery shipments | JOC.com



Cathay Pacific today became the latest airline to suspend the carriage of lithium ion batteries in bulk on both passenger and freighter aircraft until improved packing and shipping requirements can be developed.



Linked to the article.

Bendy battery promises safe, speedy charging - BBC News

"We have developed a rechargeable
aluminium battery that may replace existing storage devices, such as alkaline
batteries, which are bad for the environment, and lithium-ion batteries, which
occasionally burst into flames," said senior author Prof Hongjie Dai from
Stanford University in California.

Bendy battery promises safe, speedy charging - BBC News:







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China crucial to reducing global lithium battery hazard | South China Morning Post

Good Article from South China Morning Post



"Lithium batteries are in great demand for use in appliances from phones to cameras. They are fire hazards if not properly packaged as they heat up easily and are extremely hard to extinguish if on fire - especially onboard aircraft, Brennan said"





China crucial to reducing global lithium battery hazard | South China Morning Post

BBC News - Safety worries lead US airline to ban battery shipments

BBC News - Safety worries lead US airline to ban battery shipments



I always look to the BBC for clear and unbiased news.  This is a good article that covers facts and does not sensationalize the issues surrounding the embargoes.

BBC News - Safety worries lead US airline to ban battery shipments

BBC News - Safety worries lead US airline to ban battery shipments



I always look to the BBC for clear and unbiased news.  This is a good article that covers facts and does not sensationalize the issues surrounding the embargoes.

United Airlines Won't Accept Rechargeable Battery Shipments - ABC News

United Airlines Won't Accept Rechargeable Battery Shipments - ABC News



Citing safety concerns, United Airlines on Monday became the second major U.S. airline to announce it will no longer accept bulk shipments of rechargeable batteries of the kind that power everything from smartphones to laptops to power tools.

IO Hawk - New Technology headed to an airport near you!

The IO Hawk, fist unveiled at CES this year, is like a Segway, but ditches the weird handlebar, leaving you free to move about and balance a bit more naturally. For $1,800, it can be yours, too.



IO Hawk, the Segway-like mover you might actually want, is now available - SlashGear



Here is their official site:



http://iohawk.com/







Looks to have a 158.5 Watt hour battery.  Kind of fun looking!

New Battery Technology - Maybe!

From the man that brought you the Lithium Ion Battery ...



Engineer who invented lithium ion cell is developing battery that is 60% more powerful | Daily Mail Online

Thank You Smoque Vapours Chicago!

A big thanks to Mike Haynes of Smoque Vapours, Printer's Row Chicago for a great lesson on E-Cigarettes and personal vaporizers.

He took the time to go over all the finer points and details of how the various devices work and what they do, to give me a better understanding of the overall product.

They are a lot more complicated than I thought, but the lesson will give me a better understanding of how to apply the regulations and advisories related to e-cigarettes.

Cheers guys and check them out at www.smoque.net .

USPS Pub 52 revisions

https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-01346.pdf



The USPS will be harmonizing their Publication 52 to align with the Hazardous Materials Regulations.  This is actually a pretty big step, in the past, the USPS has been resistant in aligning its DG regs with the existing HMR.



Some of the highlights from the Federal Register are:

• Use of terminology describing lithium content with watt-hours for lithium-ion cells and batteries;
• Adoption of separate shipping descriptions for lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries;
• New requirements for the transport of small lithium cells and batteries contained in equipment; and
• New marking requirements and options for lithium batteries installed in equipment packaged with equipment and shipped without equipment.

The changes are planned to take effect on 02 March 2015.



There is a lot of good info in this bulletin.  If you move Mailable hazmat, you will want to take a look!

Chinese Government Takes Aim at E-Commerce Giant Alibaba - NYTimes.com

very interesting......



Chinese Government Takes Aim at E-Commerce Giant Alibaba - NYTimes.com



hmmm....

Kevlar could keep lithium-ion batteries from catching fire | PCWorld

A good article about battery technology.  They are testing the possibility of changing the membrane that separates the cathode and anode with a kevlar derivative, which is proving to be a safer option. The catch ... it is more expensive and the battery industry may not bite on it.
_____

"Over the years, millions of laptops and other gadgets from Dell, Lenovo, Sony and others have had to be recalled because of fire risk. In a handful of cases, smartphones and other devices have caught fire and exploded. And lithium-ion batteries caused problems in the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner."

Kevlar could keep lithium-ion batteries from catching fire | PCWorld:

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FAA warns e-cigarettes a fire danger in checked airline baggage - Business - The Boston Globe

Good article about the FAA SAfO concerning E-Cigarettes.



FAA warns e-cigarettes a fire danger in checked airline baggage - Business - The Boston Globe



The FAA action follows a Dec. 10 warning on e-cigarettes by the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization. Several incidents have been reported and the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel is considering possible action, according to its warning.



FAA Press Release:



http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=81445



SAfO 15003:



http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo/all_safos/media/2015/SAFO15003.pdf

Another few E-Cig Fires in the news

Investigators: E-Cigarette Led to Fire in Sparks High Gym

Yet again, the problem of plugging in an e-cig to a non standard power source leads to a fire in Nevada (USA) at a High School gym.

These devices are safe, but you need to be sure that they are no modified, using only parts made for the model, approved chargers for the model and that you follow all the safety guidelines for the device.

In other news (UK):

"You might save a few pounds if you buy cheap or incompatible chargers but is it really worth putting your family or home at risk? If your e-cigarette doesn't come with a charger, please don't assume that your USB cables can be transferred between devices. Chargers for mobile phones are often more powerful, so can overheat."

Read more: http://www.courier.co.uk/x/story-25881573-detail/story.html#ixzz3PIQANXCW 
Follow us: @KSCourier on Twitter | kentandsussexcourier on Facebook


Suffolk Fire and Rescue were called to an incident on Monday 12th January to attend a fire involving a car in Ipswich.

On arrival they found that the fire had burnt itself out due to lack of oxygen in the car.  http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Suffolk/Sudbury/CO10/News/Local-News/283081-Car-Fire-in-Suffolk-caused-by-E-Cigarette-Charger

Not very smart: Man busted for smuggling 94 iPhones strapped to body - CNN.com

Keep your eyes open on those China Flights!

"Shenzhen customs officials disclosed that they have caught 18 mules strapping smuggled electronic products -- including 282 iPhones -- on their bodies since December."

Not very smart: Man busted for smuggling 94 iPhones strapped to body - CNN.com

We have had a few catches on flights going to Africa.  Once we caught 250 phones in a suitcase.

IATA DGR 56th Edition, Addendum #1

www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dgr/Documents/dgr56-addendum1-en-20140108.pdf



IATA has released Addendum #1 to the 56th edition of the IATA DGR.

Battery technology: A whiff of brimstone | The Economist

Interesting article which describes the mechanics of Lithium Sulfur Batteries and how this new technology may be in out future.

Battery technology: A whiff of brimstone | The Economist

Lithium metal batteries banned as air cargo in Canada - Business - CBC News

Lithium Metal Batteries (UN3090)

"Canada has banned shipment of lithium metal batteries as cargo on passenger flights, following the lead of the International Civil Aviation Organization...Only batteries shipped separately as cargo are affected by the ban, not batteries already contained in or packed with equipment."

Lithium metal batteries banned as air cargo - Business - CBC News

VIDEO: E-cigarette charger causes fire | Staff Newsletter

Article and video showing an E-Cig Fire caused by overcharging / incorrect charger situation.

http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/VIDEO-E-cigarette-charger-causes/story-25797873-detail/story.html







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Game Boy with Lithium Batteries and USB | Hackaday

Game Boy with Lithium Batteries and USB | Hackaday:



Be on the look out for modified Personal Gaming Devices!   This looks like a trend and from the appearance, not a good one.



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