"I Trusted the Safety Certification..." Another Portable Battery Explosion on the Subway

Battery with 3C Certification Ignites While Not in Use
Accident Involving Chinese-Made Portable Battery Occurs on Subway in China

An incident occurred on the Shanghai subway where a man was engulfed in flames due to a sudden fire from a portable battery kept in his pocket. Fortunately, thanks to a swift response, major damage was prevented. However, this has reignited controversy over the safety of Chinese-made portable batteries.

An incident occurred on the Shanghai subway where a man was engulfed in flames due to a sudden fire from a portable battery kept in his pocket (photo is for illustrative purposes and unrelated to the article content).

The accident took place on January 5 on Line 15 of the Shanghai West Railway Station subway. It started in the jacket pocket of a man who was using the escalator. CCTV footage clearly captured the man coming down the escalator with his coat on fire, while nearby passengers reacted in shock and quickly moved away. Witnesses reported, "Sparks flew from his pocket and instantly spread to his jacket."

Subway staff and firefighters immediately extinguished the flames. The man suffered burns to his legs and fingers, but his life was not in danger. According to the investigation, the fire was caused by the portable battery inside his pocket. The battery was a genuine product with 3C safety certification and had been purchased only about a month prior, making it a new product. It was also confirmed that the battery was not in use at the time of the incident.

Experts have warned that batteries can catch fire even when inactive. They explained that internal short circuits, manufacturing defects, charging damage, and high-temperature environments can each be causes of such fires.

This incident has heightened anxiety as it follows a series of portable battery accidents in China. Last year, a battery on display at an Apple Store in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province exploded and caused a fire. In Hangzhou, a portable battery exploded in checked luggage, forcing a passenger plane to make an emergency landing. In Kyoto, Japan, more than 2,000 people evacuated a hotel after a Chinese tourist’s battery exploded.

According to a survey by the Korea Consumer Agency, some Chinese-made portable batteries distributed in the market showed cases where the internal protection circuit was damaged under overcharging conditions. The protection circuit is a device that keeps the battery safe during overcharging or high temperatures, and if it is damaged, the risk of fire or explosion increases dramatically. In fact, problems were found in four out of the twelve products examined.

Experts emphasized that consumers should use rated chargers, disconnect the power immediately after charging is complete, and avoid contact with flammable materials during charging. They also advised that the risk of accidents is much higher when using non-genuine batteries, so extra caution is necessary.