DRIVERS need to be on red alert if they’re leaving gadgets in their car today.
Fire safety experts have told The Sun that there are three items you must take out of your car as the UK basks in an ongoing heatwave.
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Thousands of Brits flocked to beaches over the weekend, and Monday is set to be a scorcher – with temperatures rising as high as 34C or 35C in parts of Britain.
But as Brits park up to enjoy the sunny weather, it’s important to remember not to leave gadgets in the car.
Fire experts named three gadgets in particular to be careful with.
“Most devices that we use every day, phones, power banks, laptops etc have batteries containing lithium-ion,” a spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service told The Sun.
“If exposed to high temperatures, they can go into thermal runaway, which is where they become volatile and can explode and start a fire.
“Although this usually happens if they are over-charged, being exposed to prolonged heat can also cause this.”
HEAT HURT
It’s not just a fire risk either: heat can damage your devices.
That includes permanently shorting the battery life of your smartphone.
If that happens, you’ll have to charge your mobile more often – and there’s no way to fix it other than by replacing the battery, or upgrading to a newer model.
“The interior of a car on a hot day is almost like a greenhouse, trapping heat and causing temperatures to climb high,” the fire service told The Sun.
“Even if it doesn’t lead to thermal runaway, prolonged heat exposure can also impact the performance of the battery and shorten its life.”
CAR ‘LAST RESORT’
The official advice is to take gadgets with you rather than leave them in a car.
But if you’re pulling up at the beach and want to go for a dip, it can be difficult to avoid.
If there’s no possible alternative, the fire service revealed one of the best places in your car to place a gadget as a last resort.
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“We would always recommend taking any devices that you need with you and not leaving them in a vehicle,” the fire service told us.
“If you do need to, think about where you park and try and find shaded areas.
“You can also think about where you leave the devices, for instance in the cooler parts of a car like under a seat.”
But you’re better off bringing your precious gadgets with you, if that’s an option.
Why does heat damage batteries?
Here’s what you need to know…
- Hot temperatures can cause permanent damage to batteries
- That’s because batteries contain fluids, and work through chemical reactions
- When heat is applied to a battery, the fluid inside starts to evaporate
- This damages the internal structure of the battery
- Components like the voltage indicator can be affected by heat
- This can allow batteries to charge at too high a rate, which can lead to a loss of electrolytes
- This can reduce battery life over time
- As batteries heat up, chemical reactions inside will also occur faster
- Excessive chemical reactions can reduce long-term battery life
Britain is tipped to be hotter than Ibiza today, a holiday hotspot with a temperature of 29C forecast.
“It is a hot picture as we move across England and Wales, particularly towards the southeast where temperatures could be around 34C or maybe even 35C,” said meterologist Greg Dewhurst.
He added: “The heat of the day could spark one or two heavy showers across eastern England as we move through the afternoon into the evening.”
It means Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day ever on Monday.
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