Unsafe Vape Batteries? Will 18650 Batteries Become History?

Unsafe Vape Batteries? Will 18650 Batteries Become History? With the popularization of nicotine salt technology, the e-cigarette industry has ushered in a period of rapid development for small vape technology. Currently, the mainstream e-cigarettes on the market, in addition to upgrades in atomization technology and a structure that is completely different from traditional e-cigarette products, have also shifted their power supply from the past 18650 lithium polymer batteries to the built-in lithium batteries commonly found in mobile phones.

However, due to early reports of safety risks associated with 18650 batteries, not only have opponents frequently highlighted safety issues as hot topics, but consumers have also raised significant doubts about the safety of e-cigarettes.

Therefore, the recent national standards for e-cigarettes issued by the FDA include safety specifications for batteries.
  The FDA recommends that manufacturers' products comply with UL 8319 safety standards to assess the risks associated with the batteries used in specific products. UL 8319 is the first electrical standard specifically for e-cigarette products, ensuring under-voltage or over-voltage protection.

Moreover, the agency also suggests that manufacturers include information such as current intensity, voltage, power, battery type (chemical properties), whether the battery is replaceable by consumers, and the standard methods for testing the batteries or devices when submitting applications.

In May 2017, the American National Standards Committee released UL 8139 as the standard for e-cigarettes. In June 2018, the global safety science leader UL announced that the safety standard UL 8139 for e-cigarettes was recognized by the American National Standards Institute and the Canadian Standards Association, officially becoming the only recommended standard for e-cigarette products entering the U.S. market.

The scope of UL 8139 includes:

1. Determining whether lithium batteries operate within their safety ratings;

2. Assessing whether the battery management system (BMS) is functioning properly and can prevent risks from foreseeable consumer misuse;

3. Evaluating compatibility between the entire system. Sufficient consideration is given to possible consumer usage environments and conditions;

4. Conducting mechanical stress tests based on expected usage and foreseeable misuse;

5. Supplementing marketing instructions to ensure safe usage;

6. Requiring specially designed battery discharge channels, with battery discharge directed away from the mouthpiece to reduce consumer safety risks;

From this, it can be seen that the FDA aims to address safety issues in the early stages of device development. Manufacturers can identify and correct design flaws early through UL product certification, which can minimize the risks posed by products while also protecting the brand's reputation.
 
On the other hand, the issue of e-cigarette safety is not only a concern for consumers but also a responsibility that manufacturers and related businesses must take seriously. Although there have been no major incidents related to battery risks in China so far, the upcoming national standards will also regulate e-cigarette safety.

According to documents recently submitted by China to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which are suspected to be the national standards for e-cigarettes, the production of e-cigarette devices must comply with the specifications for electrical performance (4.1.2) and components (4.1.3) outlined in the documents.

The specifications for electrical performance and components include the following restrictions most relevant to battery safety:

4.1.2.1 General requirements

4.1.2.2 Input power and current

4.1.2.3 Maximum input power of the atomizer

4.1.2.4 Protection against accidental activation and prolonged working time

4.1.2.7 Charger

4.1.2.8 Electronic circuits

4.1.3.2 Batteries

General requirements: The voltage difference between any two conductors of the e-cigarette device's accessible parts and internal components must meet the safety definitions for low voltage as defined in GB 4706.1;

Input power and current requirements: For rechargeable e-cigarette devices, the deviation of input power or current must comply with the positive deviation requirements for power and current as defined in GB 4706.1;

In the maximum input power of the atomizer, 4.1.2.3.1 stipulates: the maximum input power of the atomizer should not exceed 40W;

Protection against accidental activation and prolonged working time: E-cigarette devices with manual switches should have corresponding protective measures to prevent accidental activation. Manufacturers should inform users of methods to prevent accidental activation in the instructions and provide clear warnings;
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Charger requirements: The rated output value or output range should meet the input values or input ranges of the corresponding e-cigarette device or battery pack, and the charger's output voltage should meet the safety definitions for low voltage as defined in GB 4706.1;

Electronic circuit requirements: Under normal use or in the event of an electronic circuit failure, e-cigarette devices should not pose risks such as fire, explosion, or overheating. If the battery or battery pack of the e-cigarette device does not have a protection circuit, the electronic circuit of the e-cigarette device should comply with the requirements for system protection circuits as defined in GB 31241;

Battery components: The lithium-ion batteries used in e-cigarette devices and their assembled battery packs must meet the requirements of GB 31241.
 
From the above content, it can be seen that, in addition to the largest e-cigarette market in the U.S., domestic attention to the safety risks of e-cigarettes is also particularly high. Although unlike the U.S., domestic standards do not adopt UL 8139 certification, the starting point of the regulations is to protect consumers from safety risks associated with e-cigarettes.

For consumers, fully understanding product specifications not only increases safety awareness of commercially available products but also serves as a guarantee for their own safety.

The introduction of national standards may have a significant impact on the domestic e-cigarette market, especially the stipulation that "the maximum input power of the atomizer should not exceed 40W," which may directly affect the survival space of certain devices. However, in the long run, as e-cigarettes gradually become mainstream products among tobacco consumers, if there are no strict equipment standards, who will ensure consumer safety?