Lithium-ion batteries - The writing on the wall (Part one)

Eloquent and timely are the words of a leading academic who concludes in no uncertain terms that "Micromobility devices [incorporating lithium-ion batteries] should NOT be charged or stored indoors."¹

That, in the domestic setting. Translate to the marine setting, and it begs the question: are alarm bells not ringing for owners of yachts, their managers, their crews, marina owners, the financing banks, the yards, the manufacturers in the yacht sector, to say nothing of the original manufacturers of the batteries who may feel they can hide away behind the scenes at the end of complex supply chain contracts, and the insurers of all of the above? We unhesitatingly say "yes, they should be"; and we should know, having experience of one of the most significant reported yacht fires involving batteries and having followed the topic now for some years. The uptick in attention on the topic is consistent with that view. Yes, there is much armchair commentary and misconception surrounding the topic, but that by no means diminishes the real issues that are known and pressing.