Lithium Batteries - fire risk

There was a bin lorry went on fire not far from us a couple of months ago, and that was put down to it being from a battery or batteries.

How do they go on on a plane saw mobility scooters lined up to go I the luggage hold down below.
Do they take the batteries out & put somewhere where they can access them in case of fire?

Ideally the airlines like you to remove wheelchair and scooter batteries and keep them in the cabin, but it is such a struggle to get them out of DH's wheelchair once he is in the aisle chair, that his wheelchair goes in the hold with the batteries still in, but disconnected.

Even when disconnected lithium batteries can ignite so none should go in the hold where a fire will not be discovered easily. Those that ignited in the bin lorry weren't connected to a device.

😅oh that is a relief! I did wonder

The more I read about it, the more scared witless I am about the ignition possibilities of lithium batteries. Apparently, old mobile phones left in a long forgotten cupboard, should be found and disposed of, as they can spontaneously ignite. There are endless reports of fires being started by people charging ebikes and similar. EVs as well, where it is virtually impossible to extinguish the fires. I for one am not comfortable with this.

It has always been the case but people aren’t informed. 20 years ago I was told never to charge the battery from my son’s electric wheelchair in a bedroom because of the fire risk.

Most mobility scooters dont have lithium batteries, some of the newest do, if it a CE approved model and disconnected the risk is very low.

The danger is damaged batteries in waste and cheap lithium non approved devices from China, everything from vapes to scooters