(Un)Proven Technology: Boeing stands by lithium-ion batteries

Boeing’s 787 were grounded in January after battery smoke forced an emergency landing and a battery fire was reported.

NEW YORK: US aerospace giant Boeing said Friday it will continue to use lithium-ion batteries, despite rival Airbus saying it would avoid them following two incidents on the Boeing 787.

“Boeing is confident in the safety and reliability of lithium-ion batteries,” said Boeing spokesperson Marc Birtel.

“Our years of experience and deep expertise confirm that, like other technologies, when the appropriate battery, system and airplane protections are in place, lithium-ion batteries deliver significant benefits,” Birtel said.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners were grounded indefinitely worldwide in January worldwide after battery smoke forced an emergency landing of one plane and a battery fire was reported on a parked plane.

US air safety investigators have yet to determine what caused a short circuit in a single cell on the eight-cell lithium-ion battery in a Japan Airlines 787 at Boston’s Logan airport on January 7, apparently leading to the fire.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2013.

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