The Explosive History of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The Dreamliner’s woes are another example of this family of rechargeable batteries either swelling, overheating, or spontaneously combusting

Ignoring low-charge warnings has led to dead batteries in the electric Tesla Roadster. They cost up to $40,000 to replacePhotograph by Scott Olson/Getty Images

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By Shawn Hasto

January 25, 2013 at 2:16 AM UTC

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This article is part of the January 28, 2013 issue of businessweek.

The Explosive History of Lithium-Ion Batteries — The grounding of the 787 fleet was the first time in 34 years that an entire fleet of aircraft has been pulled out of servicePhotograph by Reuters

Boeing grounded 50 of its 787s on Jan. 16 after a battery fire forced the emergency landing of an All Nippon Airways flight. The dangerous and costly failure of the lithium-ion batteries made plenty of headlines—and not for the first time.