Laser boss calls for widespread adoption of safer battery technology in Australia

Australian consumer tech brand Laser has been chipping away at providing Aussies with affordable and innovative technologies for 35 years, and their Managing Director Chris Lau has been at the helm for 19 years. Today, he’s calling for a broader conversation and adoption of safer battery technologies.

I’ve known Chris for about as long as I’ve been doing this job, and he’s a straight shooter but also a pretty quiet bloke who just chips away at their business and doesn’t really get deeply involved in the public debate around many of the issues around consumer technology.

Today though he published a lengthy opinion piece aimed at demonstrating his company’s commitment to battery safety and hoping to educate more people about the possibilities in this space.

“For several years now” Chris says, “we’ve seen many house fires caused by lithium batteries from power tools, ebikes and other products. And just recently, the spotlight has moved to power banks and the rising number of reported fires.“

“Last year, during one of our regular visits to our dedicated China office, we met with many of our suppliers and noticed that Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) technology, a new battery chemistry, is increasingly being adopted in electric vehicles, portable power stations, home power walls, and various commercial applications. A simple question sparked a journey: Why aren’t we using this safer technology in smaller, everyday consumer electronics? That question changed the course of our product roadmap.”

That lead to a huge moment for Laser, Chris adding “Today, LASER has shifted its investment in power banks towards LiFePO₄ technology. We are proud to be both the first Australian company, and the first company in Australia and New Zealand, to introduce power banks featuring this battery technology, given its many benefits including eliminating the risk of fire.”

Having sold over 7 million power banks across Australia and New Zealand, Laser has never had a recall, something Chris and his team are incredibly proud of.

LiFePO batteries offer a better level of thermal stability, have a longer lifespan and eliminate that risk of fire.

But it’s not an easy decision for a company which trades in affordable electronics, Chris says “Truthfully, it was a difficult decision commercially, as LiFePO₄ power banks costs more for us to manufacture due to its more complex chemical composition. Higher costs aren’t something LASER likes to hear as a brand, given that we have focused on both quality and affordability for almost four decades. While costs will change over time, right now we are absorbing these increases without passing them onto consumers because we believe this is the right direction – not just for LASER, but for the whole industry.“

Chris is hoping for better education and labelling of battery products, to make LiFePO tech stand out and become an obvious choice for Australians, and he believes Governments should be leading this charge (pardon the pun), saying “Governments in both countries have an important role to play in driving change and furthering consumer awareness around battery safety. Introducing new regulations, such as mandatory labelling of chemical composition or fire-safe travel requirements, could make a real difference in protecting Australian and New Zealand consumers. Safety standards for power banks and battery-powered devices including risks involved with over-charging and misuse should also be clearly visible and easy to understand.“

As part of their commitment, Laser’s entire power bank range will be LiFePO by mid next year, and they are investigating moving other battery powered products to the same technology too.

Bravo Chris, and here’s to a better understanding by all about LiFePO – so hey, make sure your next portable battery is LiFePo folks!

Web: Laser