HALO 1000 Portable Power Stations Recalled Due To Fire And Burn Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced the recall of HALO 1000 Portable Power Stations sold by ZAGG Inc. According to the recall, the lithium-ion batteries in the units can overheat posing a serious risk of burn injuries and fire hazards.

One death has already been reported. A 79-year-old man in Bradenton, Florida died from smoke inhalation from a fire involving the recalled portable power station in his home in June 2022. In addition to the one death, the company has received four reports of fires involving the recalled unit. This includes two reports of smoke inhalation one of which included burn injuries. ZAGG and other companies sold about 5,740 units of the portable power stations from October 2021 through March 2022 for between $1,000 and $1,300.

The portable power stations are high-capacity lithium-ion battery power banks with three USB-A charge ports, a USB-C fast charge port, three AC outputs, two DC outputs, a DC socket, an LCD display, a built-in flood light, and a collapsible handle.

Negligence and product liability lawsuits for lithium-ion batteries 

The two most popular types of lithium-ion battery lawsuits involve phones and cars. In the case of phones, the lithium-ion battery that charges the phone overheats. This can sometimes cause burn injuries, especially if the phone is in the individual’s pocket when it begins to overheat. In other cases, lithium-ion batteries have been known to explode. While these lawsuits are less evident in the media than they used to be, exploding phone injuries do still occur, and injured plaintiffs are still able to file lawsuits against the manufacturer for damages.

Why do lithium-ion batteries explode, overheat, and catch fire? 

There are two main reasons why lithium-ion batteries explode or catch fire. They tend to become unstable when they are punctured. This can occur when a consumer drops the phone on the ground. The ensuing puncture to the lithium-ion battery can cause the device to become unstable, resulting in overheating.

The second reason involves breaks in the thin compacted battery material between cells. This can produce an internal short circuit which causes the phone to overheat, swell, and can lead to a battery explosion.

Lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous 

According to the CPSC, the problem with lithium-ion batteries often stems from manufacturers trying to get too much power out of the batteries. Manufacturers want to maximize the amount of energy stored in the lithium-ion battery while minimizing the amount of time it takes to charge. Inside the battery, the only thing preventing it from short-circuiting is a thin, porous strip of polypropylene which prevents the electrodes from touching one another. Further, the batteries are filled with a flammable electrolyte which can explode into flame once it hits oxygen.

Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today 

If you’ve been injured by a dangerous or defective consumer product, call the Florida personal injury attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert today to schedule a consultation. We can help you recover damages related to any injuries you suffer including burn injuries. Call today to learn more!

Source:

cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/HALO-1000-Portable-Power-Stations-Recalled-Due-to-Serious-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-One-Death-Reported-Imported-by-ZAGG-Sold-by-ACG-QVC-and-ZAGG