Product recalls rise as power banks surge in popularity
A lack of regulation and soaring demand is contributing to the growing number of wireless power banks getting recalled, experts say.
The competition watchdog warns 34,000 defective portable chargers are still being used by customers, after a surging number of recalls of the product.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued 17 different recalls of power banks since 2020, with more than half being made since 2024.
Popular brands including Anker, Baseus and SnapWireless power banks were the most recent products to be recalled.
Power banks help people keep their devices such as phones and laptops charged while on the go. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Power banks are portable battery chargers designed to power devices on-the-go.
They use rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries that are highly flammable, can explode or vent toxic gas, the commission says.
Product recalls for some of the bigger brands is a surprise for Chris Barnes, a senior project officer for consumer advocacy group Choice.
“You’re always playing catch-up with new technologies, always having to implement specific new mandatory standards or a product ban to cover these sorts of situations,” he told AAP.
“Consumers should be able to trust that anything they buy through a reputable retailer is OK.”
Users are urged to follow manufacturer instructions and not charge near flammable furniture. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
The uptick in recalls is being caused by more products on the market, a lack of regulation and differing materials inside the models, University of Melbourne head of chemical biomedical engineering Amanda Ellis says.
While most power banks are safe to use, a person’s safety rests on how they use them, she said.
“We don’t have Australian standards for batteries at the moment so that’s one of the problems,” Professor Ellis told AAP.
“We don’t really know what is in these batteries because it’s all (intellectual property) protected, so it’s challenging, and more and more people are using them than five years ago.”
Some of the ways to lower the risk are following manufacturer instructions, not charging near flammable furniture and never using damaged or leaking power banks, the commission said.
“Some consumers have suffered serious burn injuries, and some have had their property damaged because of power banks overheating and catching fire,” the watchdog’s deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.
Suppliers offer a full refund or free replacement under the recalls, Ms Lowe said.
