E-cigarette Batteries Can Explode and Injure Without Warning

E-cigarette batteries can explode, causing harm to the user and to those within close proximity of the explosion.

E-cigarettes are powered by lithium-ion batteries that heat an aerosol cartridge that releases vapor as the user inhales. Using an e-cigarette is also known as “vaping”.

E-cigarettes have become popular because they are sometimes accepted in “no smoking” areas, since the devices release vapor and not smoke.

But when e-cigarette batteries malfunction or overheat, the devices can explode with no warning.

E-cigarette Batteries Explode with No Notice

A 14-year-old girl was burned while riding on the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios in Orlando when a nearby college student’s e-cigarette exploded.

The device was in the college student’s pocket when it exploded and sent a ball of flame into the air. The girl was taken to a hospital and treated for mild to moderate burns.

The train seat was left with a small burn hole in it, but no other damage to the ride was reported. The college student left the park before he could be questioned about the e-cigarette incident.

A man outside a nightclub in Toulouse, France suffered second-degree burns when his e-cigarette exploded in his pocket, engulfing him in sparks and flames for several seconds. The explosion, captured on video, resembles a firework going off in the man’s pocket.

Surgeon Dai Nguyen of Morriston Hospital in Wales said, “There have also been reports of e-cigarettes exploding in people’s mouths which resulted in catastrophic injuries similar to those you would experience if you were shot in the face by a gun.”

Cheap E-cigarette Batteries and Chargers Increase Risk

Why are some e-cigarette batteries exploding?

E-cigarettes run on small lithium-ion batteries that are sensitive to extreme temperature changes. They must be kept between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. If exposed to temperatures above or below that recommendation, malfunctions can occur.

Because vaping is not a regulated industry, it lacks manufacturing standards and testing programs. Cheap batteries and cheap chargers can increase the risk of malfunctioning.

A well-made lithium-ion battery has a miniscule risk of failure because of safety mechanisms built from within. Cheaper batteries do not include these precautionary protections.

“The electrolyte inside the battery is basically the equivalent of gasoline,” said Venkat Viswanathan, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. “So when these batteries short out, there’s a surge of heat that causes this flammable electrolyte to combust and explode.”

Poorly made chargers can also increase the risk of battery explosions. Not all chargers are universal in quality.

The U.S. Fire Administration says that more than 2.5 million Americans used e-cigarettes in 2014. Not only have a lot of people switched from smoking to vaping, but also a lot of people who previously didn’t smoke now vape.

The “juice” that turns to vapor in an e-cigarette is available in many flavors, including those that appeal to younger people who might not otherwise be interested in smoking. Cotton candy, berry, root beer and other sweet flavors are marketed to young people who also might be more inclined to purchase cheaper batteries and chargers to save money.

If you have been injured by an e-cigarette battery explosion, you may have a legal claim against the manufacturers.

Join a Free Exploding E-Cigarette Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one was injured and hospitalized by an exploding e-cigarette, you may qualify to join this e-cigarette class action lawsuit investigation.