Insurer Aviva UK is warning customers to change battery charging habits, as 1 in 9 households has seen a battery fire. The UK’s leading insurance company, with nearly 19 million customers, says lithium-ion battery fires increased 7% from 2022 to 2023 and 11% of households have experienced a battery fire or explosion. Yet over 40% of the population don’t know what a lithium-ion battery is, and are not aware of the risks related to charging. 70% don’t know the warning signs that a battery is likely to fail. Many people leave their devices charging when already fully charged or when they are not at home. 10% of households still do not have a smoke alarm. Aviva presents a number of tips to extend lithium-ion battery lifetime and keep them safe and avoid fires when charging.
“Aviva issues warning about unsafe charging habit”, Aviva UK, 10th January 2024 https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2024/01/Aviva-issues-warning-about-unsafe-charging-habits/