There have been reports of ten lithium-ion traction battery explosions in China - more than the rest of the world taken together. This reflects a cavalier attitude to safety that is only dwarfed by the history of irresponsibility in making lead acid batteries, which goes back a long way, with only the occasional arrest when there is extreme anger at the consequences. The rechargeable lead batteries concerned are used in scooters, cars and some mobile phones.
In the latest example of this, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday that the general manager of a battery plant in eastern China faces environmental pollution charges after lead emissions from the plant poisoned nearly 170 villagers, including 53 children. In addition, three government officials, including the deputy chief of the district's environmental protection office, were suspended for failure of supervision.
Xinhua cited local officials and a provincial health department statement in alleging that this is only the latest of a string of heavy metal pollution cases in China.
For example, 168 villagers in the Shangtao village near Taizhou city were found to have elevated lead levels in their blood and three of the adults had more than three times the safe limit for humans.
"An inspection of the battery plant showed that lead readings in gas and water discharged from the plant exceeded the legal limit, which also resulted in excessive lead in the earth nearby," it quoted local environment official Jiang Xincai as saying. Now, villagers are being advised to avoid eating food grown in the area as the lead had probably contaminated groundwater according to Xinhua.
In January 2011, state media reported that more than 200 children in another eastern province had been poisoned by lead from battery plants located too close to houses.
Insidiously, lead poisoning builds up slowly as a result of repeated exposure to small amounts and it can damage various parts of the body, including the nervous and reproductive systems and the kidneys, and it can also cause high blood pressure and anaemia - all widely reported in China.
In Korea, Japan and most of the West, it is well recognised that lead is particularly harmful for young children as it can lead to learning difficulties and behavioural problems regularly caused in China. Belatedly, China's environment ministry has called for urgent measures to tackle heavy metal poisoning because cases of mass poisoning have aroused widespread public anger and een rioting. About 74 people have been detained this year after reports that more than 100 people were affected by lead and cadmium poisoning.
Many forms of mining in China are notorious for their toll on human health and life. In 2009, protesters broke into a smelting works they blamed for the lead poisoning of more than 600 children, smashing its trucks and tearing down fences.
However, even in nations behaving more responsibly, there will be a sigh of relief as vehicle batteries, the last major bastion of lead acid, shed the poison.
China will never be able to control the disposal of lead in its 100 million electric bikes and it must follow the almost universal practice of using lithium-ion and other alternatives in electric bikes sold elsewhere. Outside China, lithium-ion traction batteries are now being adopted in many surface boats and almost all of the next generation of hybrid vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses.
Expect next to hear of penetration of mobility vehicles for the disabled and other lead acid applications. In all cases, pollution is only one of the many arguments for replacing lead acid. China must follow. Meanwhile, it is an irony that the electric bike is the EV that has most reduced greenhouse gases and it has been responsible for the most electric miles travelled. This did not have to be at such a human cost, however.
For more attend Electric Vehicles - Land Sea Air Europe 2011
to reflect its unique covering of the whole subject. Never before has there been an opportunity in Europe for people in land, water and air electric vehicles and their components, infrastructure and test equipment to compare notes in one event. Delegates already signed up vary from Airbus, Ford, Hudson Power Sports and Hudson Yachts to Sony, the Bulgarian Electric Vehicle Association and Robert Bosch Venture Capital. A considerable number of lithium-ion manufacturers are attending or speaking because their time has come.
