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Wasn't there a problem at Boeing recently where LiIon batteries overheated and caught fire?

• aidenn0 11y ago
  Yes, those were lithium cobalt IIRC. LiFePO were new technology when the 787 was designed (it's a long product cycle) and the FAA required a metal shield around the LiIon batteries. LiFePO is much less likely to enter thermal runaway, and much less explosive when it does. Overcharging them is about as bad as non lithium chemistries (it's even possible to start a fire by overcharging a lead-acid). Don't try this at home, but overcharging and shorting a LiFePO isn't nearly as catastrophic as doing so with a LiCoO or LiPo. With those chemistries you're basically relying on the battery firmware to keep the battery from exploding under those conditions.