GOLF CART BATTERIES CAUSE FIRES

Golf cart batteries can and do cause fires.  More golf carts are being outfitted with lithium-ion batteries (or “LIBs” as they are known by).  It is important that you monitor these batteries—even if they are new—to make sure they are not producing excess heat. When the individual cells within the batteries leak or are damaged they can produce intense heat which can lead to a golf cart battery fire or even an explosion. When the battery becomes damaged and overheats during use or charging this produces an event known as “thermal runaway”.

Fire departments are now advising golf cart owners to charge their golf carts outside of the garage, and to not charge them overnight, so they can be monitored while charging. It is also recommended that the golf cart have a charging shutoff mechanism.

GOLF CART BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE AND CAR

Right now at www.GolfCartAttorney.com (the law offices of Frank D. Butler, primary offices Tampa Bay and The Villages) we are handling a golf cart battery fire case where the family was doing nothing more than charging their golf cart like anyone would do. The golf cart battery was newly installed by a company that is in the business of installing these lithium-ion batteries. A battery charging cutoff was not suggested and it was not installed. Should a battery charging cutoff be the standard of care when companies are installing golf cart batteries? It would appear the answer should be yes, such battery charging cutoffs should at least be offered and it should be explained why a battery charger cutoff is a good idea. It would be up to a jury to decide whether that was reasonable or not.

It is important not to have your golf cart batteries charging overnight. Many of the e-vehicles, like e-bikes, hoverboards, golf carts, e-scooters, etc., are left on the charger at night and they pose a risk to the residents who are sleeping while the potential danger of thermal runaway is a risk. This is also why fire departments suggest that owners of golf carts and other e-vehicles do not leave their golf carts, e-bikes, scooters, etc., on charge near the front door—especially not for people living in an apartment.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES CAUSE INTENSE BATTERY FIRES

One other thing to keep in mind is that electric vehicles have some of the largest and heaviest arrays of lithium-ion batteries. The industry is keeping the instances of electric vehicle fires down at present. However, if you do even modest Google searches on this subject you will see that electric vehicles produce intense fires which are very difficult to extinguish. Fire Departments are only now catching up to speed on how to manage these intense vehicle fires. It is therefore once again very important not to charge these vehicles at a time which places the household in a vulnerable situation. Electric vehicle manufacturers are not doing a good enough job of warning owners and users of this now known danger of electric vehicle fires.

If you have suffered injury or property loss as a result of a golfcart lithium-ion battery fire, electric bike, electric scooter or electric vehicle, contact us to discuss your case. We are holding electric vehicles, golfcart manufacturers, and installers accountable for the damage caused by lithium-ion battery fire loses and injuries.

There is never a charge to you unless we win your case.

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