The Gdansk Fire: Another Wake-Up Call for Intelligent Battery Management

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2 min read | Feb 8, 2025Written by Charles Welch, Co-Founder & CEO of Proper Voltage

In Gdansk, Poland, a massive fire at a historic warehouse put battery safety into sharp focus. The blaze at the former Railway Rolling Stock Repair Plant on Siennicka Street engulfed a building storing around 1,500 bikes, including over 1,300 electric models and about 1,000 batteries. Firefighters battled the flames under challenging conditions, reminding us that when unsuitable batteries are densely packed, even a minor issue can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation.

Battery safety is about mitigating a range of potential issues—from dendrite formation and cell-to-cell variability to quality control, embedded software challenges, and even user error. Each factor plays a critical role in keeping batteries safe under all conditions.

A major contributor to battery fires is dendrite formation. In many conventional lithium-ion batteries, these tiny needle-like structures create internal short circuits that lead to overheating and, ultimately, fires. In contrast, lithium-titanate oxide (LTO) batteries are engineered with a unique crystal structure that prevents dendrite growth, making them virtually immune to the failures that can ignite a fire.

At Proper Voltage, we recognize that while LTO offers significant fire safety advantages, it is just one of many chemistries suited for different products. Our universal approach means our Battery Operating System works with any battery chemistry to keep them safe. Even if a particular chemistry does not naturally prevent issues like dendrite formation, our system actively monitors voltage and temperature in real time and adjusts charging conditions to prevent overcharge and other risks.

The Gdansk fire, along with similar incidents, underscores why proactive battery management is essential. By combining the inherent safety features of chemistries like LTO with intelligent control systems, we can drastically reduce the risk of dangerous incidents. At Proper Voltage, we deliver solutions that adapt to any battery chemistry while keeping safety at the forefront. The lessons from Gdansk remind us that intelligent management is key to protecting both people and property in our battery-powered world.

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